Shloka 42

सती-शिवचरित्रप्रसङ्गः / The Account of Satī and Śiva’s Divine Conduct

Prelude to Detailed Narrative

Devanagari script

अविश्वस्तं मनो ज्ञात्वा तस्याश्शंभुस्सनातनः । अवोचद्वचनं चेति प्रभुलीलाविशारदः

Transliteration

aviśvastaṃ mano jñātvā tasyāśśaṃbhussanātanaḥ | avocadvacanaṃ ceti prabhulīlāviśāradaḥ

Translation

Da er erkannte, dass ihr Geist noch nicht völlig vertraute, sprach der ewige Śambhu—kundig im göttlichen Spiel des Herrn—daraufhin zu ihr.

Word by Word

• अविश्वस्तम्: distrustful, uneasy
• अविश्वस्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-विश्वस्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √श्वस्/√विश्वस्? + क्त, नञ्-पूर्वक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; नञ्-समासार्थ (not trusting/uneasy)

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Purvakala-Kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकाल (having known)

• तस्याः: of her
• तस्याः: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• शम्भुः: Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• सनातनः: eternal
• सनातनः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण

• अवोचत्: said
• अवोचत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वचनम्: words, speech
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्तिसूचक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• प्रभुलीलाविशारदः: skilled in the Lord’s sportive play
• प्रभुलीलाविशारदः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रभु-लीला-विशारद (प्रातिपदिक; प्रभु + लीला + विशारद)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (skilled in the Lord's play)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the events; Shiva is the one who speaks within the story)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sati

FAQs

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

It shows Shiva as Pati (the compassionate Lord) who reads the inner state of the soul and responds with guidance, turning doubt into śraddhā (trust) through his leela and protective instruction.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Shiva’s accessible, relational grace—he speaks, reassures, and guides. Linga-worship similarly trains the mind to shift from suspicion and agitation to steady devotion and surrender to Shiva’s presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to steady an uncertain mind through japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with focused listening (śravaṇa) and inner reflection, supported by simple Shaiva observances like vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and devotional prayer.