Shloka 26

Anasūyā–Atri Tapas-Varṇana

Description of Anasūyā and Atri’s Austerities

Devanagari script

ध्याने च परमे लीनो न व्यबुध्यत किंचन । अनसूयापि सा साध्वी स्वामिनं वै शिवं तथा

Transliteration

dhyāne ca parame līno na vyabudhyata kiṃcana | anasūyāpi sā sādhvī svāminaṃ vai śivaṃ tathā

Translation

Absorbed in the supreme meditation, he did not awaken to anything at all. That virtuous Anasūyā too, in the same way, remained wholly intent upon her Lord—Śiva.

Word by Word

• ध्याने: in meditation
• ध्याने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

• परमे: supreme
• परमे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; ‘ध्याने’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• लीनः: absorbed
• लीनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ली (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle, active sense), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगः

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• व्यबुध्यत: awoke/became aware
• व्यबुध्यत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + बुध् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• किंचन: anything
• किंचन: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; अनिश्चितार्थक (indefinite)

• अनसूया: Anasūyā
• अनसूया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनसूया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अप्यर्थ (also/even)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• साध्वी: the virtuous woman
• साध्वी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साध्वी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• स्वामिनम्: (her) lord
• स्वामिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; ‘स्वामिनम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन्

• तथा: thus/likewise
• तथा: Visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: thus/so)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Anasūyā

FAQs

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

It highlights ekāgratā (one-pointed absorption): the mind merged in supreme dhyāna does not wander to external awareness, and true virtue expresses itself as unwavering devotion to Śiva, the supreme Pati (Lord).

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

The verse points to interior worship—meditation where the devotee’s awareness rests steadily in Śiva. In Saguna/Liṅga worship, this same steadiness is cultivated through fixed attention on the Liṅga, which matures into inner absorption.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Single-pointed dhyāna supported by japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—ideally with Śiva-dharma aids like vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa to stabilize devotion and remembrance.