Shloka 16

Anasūyā–Atri Tapas-Varṇana

Description of Anasūyā and Atri’s Austerities

Devanagari script

एकाकिनी तदा जाता सानसूया पतिव्रता

Transliteration

ekākinī tadā jātā sānasūyā pativratā

Translation

Then she became all alone, free from malice and jealousy, steadfast in her vow of devoted fidelity to her husband.

Word by Word

• एकाकिनी: alone, solitary (fem.)
• एकाकिनी: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकाकिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (alone)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• जाता: became, came to be
• जाता: Kriya (क्रिया/Predication)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जात (√जन् धातु; क्त-प्रत्यय, कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि (PPP) — ‘became/was born’ (finite sense)

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

• अनसूया: Anasūyā
• अनसूया: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानााधिकरण/appositive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनसूया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम (proper noun)

• पतिव्रता: devoted to her husband
• पतिव्रता: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पति + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पतेः व्रतम् यस्याः/पतिव्रता)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

FAQs

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

It praises inner purity—being anasūyā (without envy)—and steadfast dharma; such mental purity is a key qualification for receiving Shiva’s grace and progressing toward liberation.

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana emphasizes bhāva (inner disposition). This verse highlights the required devotional temperament—humility, non-jealousy, and fidelity—through which Saguna Shiva is pleased and the devotee becomes fit for deeper realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate anasūyā as a daily vrata alongside Shiva-upāsanā—japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with calm mind; if practiced, apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and maintain sattvic conduct as supportive disciplines.