Shloka 14

विष्णोः स्तुतिः—शिवसतीरक्षावचनम्

Viṣṇu’s Hymn and the Petition for Śiva–Satī’s Protection

Devanagari script

दुर्ज्ञेया शांभवी माया तया संमोहितं जगत् । सचराचरमत्यंतं सदेवासुरमानुषम्

Transliteration

durjñeyā śāṃbhavī māyā tayā saṃmohitaṃ jagat | sacarācaramatyaṃtaṃ sadevāsuramānuṣam

Translation

Śivas Śāmbhavī-Māyā ist überaus schwer zu begreifen. Durch eben diese Māyā wird das ganze Universum völlig betört—alles Bewegte und Unbewegte, samt Göttern, Asuras und Menschen.

Word by Word

• durjñeyā: hard to know
• durjñeyā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dur + jñeya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); gerundive/ya-participle (तव्यत्/यत्-अर्थे कृदन्त: ज्ञेय = to be known), with prefix dur- (दुर्) meaning difficult; qualifies māyā

• śāṃbhavī: belonging to Śambhu
• śāṃbhavī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śāṃbhavī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); relational adjective (तद्धित/नैष्ठिक) ‘of Śambhu’ qualifying māyā

• māyā: illusion, māyā
• māyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• tayā: by her/by that (māyā)
• tayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); pronoun referring to māyā

• saṃmohitam: deluded
• saṃmohitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam + muh (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, क्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies jagat

• jagat: the world
• jagat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• sa-carācaram: with the moving and the unmoving
• sa-carācaram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa + cara + acara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); द्वन्द्व (चर + अचर = moving and non-moving) with सह/sa- prefix; qualifies jagat

• atyantam: utterly, completely
• atyantam: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atyanta (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) of degree

• sa-deva-asura-mānuṣam: including gods, demons, and humans
• sa-deva-asura-mānuṣam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa + deva + asura + mānuṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); द्वन्द्व (देव + असुर + मानुष) with सह/sa- prefix; qualifies jagat

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana to the sages at Naimisharanya within the Rudrasaṃhitā context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

The verse teaches that bondage is not merely ignorance of facts but the cosmic veiling power (Shiva’s Māyā) that confuses all beings. In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, liberation arises when Shiva’s grace removes this delusion and reveals the soul’s true relation to Pati (Shiva).

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

Because Māyā deludes the mind, the Purana emphasizes Saguna upāsanā—Linga worship, mantra, and devotion—as stable supports that gather attention and purify perception. Through reverent Linga worship, the seeker turns from Māyā’s appearances toward Shiva, the source beyond Māyā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with disciplined worship (pūjā/abhiṣeka) and inner recollection of Shiva as the Lord of Māyā. If following Purāṇic practice, applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and wearing rudrākṣa can be used as daily reminders to overcome delusion and remain Shiva-centered.