Shloka 12

सतीविरहानन्तरं शम्भोश्चरितम् / Śiva’s Conduct After Satī’s Separation

Devanagari script

इत्थं चिरतरं स्थाणुस्तस्थौ ध्वस्तगुणत्रयः । निर्विकारी परम्ब्रह्म मायाधीशस्स्वयंप्रभुः

Transliteration

itthaṃ cirataraṃ sthāṇustasthau dhvastaguṇatrayaḥ | nirvikārī parambrahma māyādhīśassvayaṃprabhuḥ

Translation

Thus, for a very long time, Sthāṇu (Lord Śiva) remained unmoving—having transcended the three guṇas. Changeless, the Supreme Brahman, the Lord of Māyā, self-luminous and sovereign, He stood established in His own nature.

Word by Word

• इत्थम्: thus, in this manner
• इत्थम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ittham (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• चिरतरम्: for a longer time
• चिरतरम्: Kālādhi-kriyāviśeṣaṇa (कालाधिक क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ciratara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तुलनात्मक-विशेषणस्य नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचनरूपेण क्रियाविशेषणवत् (comparative used adverbially: 'for a longer time')

• स्थाणुः: Sthāṇu (the Immovable; Śiva)
• स्थाणुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthāṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (singular)

• तस्थौ: stood, remained
• तस्थौ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• ध्वस्त-गुण-त्रयः: whose three qualities (guṇas) were destroyed
• ध्वस्त-गुण-त्रयः: Kartṛviśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhvasta (कृदन्त, ध्वंस्/ध्वस्त) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + traya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (guṇānāṃ trayaṃ yasya dhvastaṃ = whose three guṇas are destroyed)

• निर्विकारी: unchanging, without modification
• निर्विकारी: Kartṛviśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir-vikārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ब्रह्म इति पदस्य विशेषणम्

• ब्रह्म: Brahman, the Absolute
• ब्रह्म: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• माया-अधीशः: lord of māyā
• माया-अधीशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māyā (प्रातिपदिक) + adhīśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (māyāyāḥ adhīśaḥ = lord of māyā)

• स्वयम्: by himself, himself
• स्वयम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), आत्मवाचक/स्वतन्त्रतावाचक (emphatic: 'by oneself')

• प्रभुः: lord, master
• प्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Implicit yogic ‘time-dilation’ and transcendence of prakṛti-guṇas; Śiva as parambrahman beyond kalā/time.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents Śiva as Pati—the self-luminous Supreme Reality—who is untouched by change and beyond the three guṇas, indicating that liberation comes through transcending guṇic bondage and abiding in the Lord’s changeless consciousness.

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

Though Śiva is described here as nirvikāra and beyond guṇas (nirguṇa), the Liṅga is the accessible saguna symbol through which devotees contemplate and approach that very transcendence—moving from form-based worship to realization of the formless Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to steady dhyāna (still meditation) on Śiva as self-luminous Parabrahman; practically, one may support this with japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and inner detachment from guṇic impulses.