Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

तदा विचार्य सुधिया धृत्वा सुस्त्रीतनुं क्षितिः । आविर्बभूव तत्रैव भयमानीय शंकरात्

Transliteration

tadā vicārya sudhiyā dhṛtvā sustrītanuṃ kṣitiḥ | āvirbabhūva tatraiva bhayamānīya śaṃkarāt

Translation

Then, after reflecting with clear intelligence, the Earth assumed the form of a noble woman and manifested right there, having been seized by fear of Śaṅkara (Lord Śiva).

Word by Word

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (indeclinable adverb of time)

• विचार्य: having considered
• विचार्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-चर् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (having considered)

• सुधिया: with good understanding
• सुधिया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु-धी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Feminine, Instrumental, Singular)

• धृत्वा: having assumed
• धृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (having assumed/taken)

• सु-स्त्री-तनुम्: a very beautiful womanly form
• सु-स्त्री-तनुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक) + तनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Feminine, Accusative, Singular)

• क्षितिः: the Earth (goddess)
• क्षितिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative, Singular)

• आविः: manifestly
• आविः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आविस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/प्रादुर्भाववाचक (indeclinable: manifestly/appearing)

• बभूव: became/appeared
• बभूव: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम् (Perfect, 3rd person, Singular)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (adverb of place)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (particle of emphasis/only)

• भयम्: fear
• भयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• आनीय: having brought
• आनीय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-नी (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-समकक्ष (gerund), अव्ययभाव (having brought)

• शंकरात्: from Śaṅkara
• शंकरात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Ablative, Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse shows how even cosmic principles like the Earth respond to Śiva’s overwhelming sovereignty: awe (bhaya) here points to reverent recognition of Pati (the Lord) whose presence compels creation to align with dharma and divine order.

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

Śaṅkara is presented in an accessible, personal (saguṇa) manner—so powerful that the Earth personifies herself to respond. In Linga worship, devotees similarly approach Śiva as the manifest focus of reverence, acknowledging His supreme agency that governs the world.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is cultivating reverent humility before Śiva—support this with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and, where customary, Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) remembrance to steady the mind in devotion and surrender.