Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

ऋभुभिस्तैर्महावीरैर्हन्यमानास्समन्ततः । अयत्नयानाः प्रमथा उशद्भिर्ब्रह्मतेजसा

Transliteration

ṛbhubhistairmahāvīrairhanyamānāssamantataḥ | ayatnayānāḥ pramathā uśadbhirbrahmatejasā

Translation

Von allen Seiten von jenen mächtigen Helden niedergeschlagen, verloren die Pramathas ihre frühere Unbekümmertheit und gerieten in Bedrängnis, versengt vom lodernden Glanz, Brahmā gleich an strahlender Tejas-Kraft (ihrer Gegner).

Word by Word

• ऋभुभिः: by the Ṛbhus
• ऋभुभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन — Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Plural

• तैः: by those
• तैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Plural; विशेषण (demonstrative)

• महावीरैः: by great heroes
• महावीरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Plural; समासः कर्मधारय (महान् वीरः)

• हन्यमानाः: being struck/killed
• हन्यमानाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग — Present passive participle, Nominative Plural Masculine

• समन्ततः: on all sides
• समन्ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• अयत्नयानाः: moving without effort; effortlessly advancing
• अयत्नयानाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + यत्न + यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural; समासः तत्पुरुष (अयत्नेन यानाः = without effort-moving/going)

• प्रमथाः: the Pramathas (Śiva’s attendants)
• प्रमथाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural

• उशद्भिः: by blazing/shining (ones)
• उशद्भिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उश् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग — Present active participle, Instrumental Plural Masculine; विशेषण

• ब्रह्मतेजसा: by the Brahmic radiance/energy
• ब्रह्मतेजसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Neuter, Instrumental (3rd), Singular; समासः तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मणः तेजः)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Pramathas
• Ṛbhus

FAQs

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

It highlights the doctrine of tejas (spiritual radiance) as a real power: when divinely empowered brilliance manifests, even fierce hosts like the Pramathas can be checked—showing that victory in cosmic conflict depends on higher śakti and dharma, not mere force.

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

The Pramathas are attendants of Saguna Śiva (the Lord with attributes and retinue). Their being overwhelmed reminds devotees that all subordinate powers operate under higher divine order; Linga-worship centers the mind on Śiva as the supreme Pati beyond all competing forces.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva’s protective tejas through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and adopt Śaiva marks like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a discipline of purity—cultivating inner luminosity rather than aggression.