Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 12

सतीदेव्याः योगमार्गेण देहत्यागः — Satī’s Yogic Abandonment of the Body

Devanagari script

अहोद्य द्विमनाऽभूत्सा सती देवी मनस्विनी । वृषध्वजप्रियाऽभीक्ष्णं मानयोग्या सतां सदा

Transliteration

ahodya dvimanā'bhūtsā satī devī manasvinī | vṛṣadhvajapriyā'bhīkṣṇaṃ mānayogyā satāṃ sadā

Translation

Weh—an jenem Tag wurde die Göttin Satī, die willensstark und besonnen ist, im Geist zwiespältig. Obgleich sie Vṛṣadhvaja (Śiva) stets lieb war, blieb sie unter den Tugendhaften immerdar der Ehre und Verehrung würdig.

Word by Word

• अहो: alas!/oh!
• अहो: Bhāva-prakāśaka (भावप्रकाशक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहो (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विस्मय (interjection)

• अद्य: today/now
• अद्य: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (time-adverb: today/now)

• द्विमनाः: of divided mind
• द्विमनाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि + मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (द्वे मने यस्याः सा) qualifying सती

• अभूत्: became
• अभूत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सती: Satī
• सती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम (proper noun)

• देवी: the goddess
• देवी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; apposition to सती

• मनस्विनी: strong-minded/spirited
• मनस्विनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण of सती

• वृषध्वजप्रिया: beloved of Vṛṣadhvaja (Śiva)
• वृषध्वजप्रिया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृषध्वज + प्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (वृषध्वजस्य प्रिया) qualifying सती

• अभीक्ष्णम्: constantly
• अभीक्ष्णम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अभीक्ष्णम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; frequency-adverb (repeatedly/constantly)

• मानयोग्या: worthy of honor
• मानयोग्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मान + योग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (मानस्य योग्या) qualifying सती

• सताम्: of the virtuous
• सताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; 'of the good/virtuous'

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; time-adverb (always)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Daksha

FAQs

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

It highlights Satī’s moment of inner conflict between worldly ties and her unwavering devotion to Śiva, showing that true dharma is tested when social pride and spiritual allegiance collide.

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

By calling Śiva “Vṛṣadhvaja,” the verse emphasizes Saguna devotion—loving the Lord in a personal form and holding Him as the highest object of reverence even when society withholds honour.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is steady bhakti in turbulence: mentally take refuge in Śiva through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and maintain respectful, sattvic conduct (māna) toward the Lord and His devotees.