Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 19

घनागमवर्णनम् / Description of the Monsoon’s Onset

Satī’s Address to Śiva

Devanagari script

महतीवाद्य नो भीतिर्मा मेघोत्था पिनाकधृक् । यतस्व यस्माद्वासाय माचिरं वचनान्मम

Transliteration

mahatīvādya no bhītirmā meghotthā pinākadhṛk | yatasva yasmādvāsāya māciraṃ vacanānmama

Translation

Fürchte nicht das laute Dröhnen; und der aus den Wolken geborene Donner erschrecke dich nicht, o Träger des Pināka. Darum bemühe dich, eine Wohnstatt zu bereiten — zögere nicht, nach meinen Worten zu handeln.

Word by Word

• mahatī: great
• mahatī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; adjective (possibly addressing/qualifying an implied noun like 'bhītiḥ')

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha-bodhaka (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; disjunctive particle (विकल्पार्थक निपात)

• ādya: first, foremost
• ādya: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ādya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga/Napumsaka, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; adjective 'first/primary' (context uncertain due to possible textual variant)

• naḥ: our
• naḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī (6th) Bahuvacana (genitive 'of us') or Dvitīyā (2nd) Bahuvacana (accusative 'us'); here likely genitive with 'bhītiḥ' = 'our fear'

• bhītiḥ: fear
• bhītiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana

• mā: do not
• mā: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: mā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; prohibitive particle used with imperative (निषेधार्थक निपात)

• megha-utthā: arising from clouds
• megha-utthā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: megha (प्रातिपदिक) + utthā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'arisen from clouds' (qualifying bhītiḥ)

• pināka-dhṛk: Pināka-bearer (Śiva)
• pināka-dhṛk: Sambodhana/Karta (सम्बोधन/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pināka (प्रातिपदिक) + dhṛ (धातु) + kvip (कृत्)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; kṛdanta agent 'bearer' with object: 'bearer of Pināka' (Śiva)

• yatasva: strive, make effort
• yatasva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yat (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (Imperative/लोट्), Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd), Ekavacana; ātmanepada; 'make effort'

• yasmāt: because of which / from which
• yasmāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga/Napumsaka, Pañcamī (5th), Ekavacana; relative pronoun 'from which/because'

• vāsāya: for dwelling, for residence
• vāsāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Caturthī (4th/चतुर्थी), Ekavacana; dative of purpose

• mā: do not
• mā: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: mā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; prohibitive particle (निषेध)

• ciram: for long
• ciram: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: cira (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाववत्)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb of time (कालवाचक)

• vacanāt: from the command/word
• vacanāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Pañcamī (5th), Ekavacana; ablative 'from (my) word/command'

• mama: of me, my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī (6th), Ekavacana; genitive

Speaker

Satī (addressing Lord Śiva)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: No direct Jyotirliṅga linkage; the verse is domestic counsel framed with cosmic imagery (thunder) and Śiva’s epithet Pinākadhṛk.

Significance: Teaching: fearlessness in adversity when aligned with Śiva; establishing ‘vāsa’ (dwelling) symbolizes stabilizing dharma and mind under the Lord’s protection.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Thunderstorm imagery (meghottha-nāda) as a natural portent, not an apocalyptic event.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sati

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes fearlessness through devotion and divine companionship: even thunderous disturbances cannot shake one who abides with Śiva, the Pati (Lord) who grants refuge and steadiness to the soul (paśu).

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

By addressing Śiva as Pinākadhṛk, the verse highlights Saguna Śiva—approachable and protective. In Linga-worship, this translates to seeking Śiva as the stable inner abode (āśraya) amid external turbulence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is to cultivate inner refuge in Śiva: repeat the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with steadiness, and establish a sacred space (vāsa) for daily worship—optionally with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as aids to focus.