Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

तद्दृष्ट्वा चरितं शम्भुः कौतुकी सूतिकृत्कृती । अन्तर्यामी विहस्याथोवाच ज्ञात्वा रसां हरः

Transliteration

taddṛṣṭvā caritaṃ śambhuḥ kautukī sūtikṛtkṛtī | antaryāmī vihasyāthovāca jñātvā rasāṃ haraḥ

Translation

Seeing that conduct, Śambhu—playful yet fully accomplished in the role of a midwife—Hara, the Antaryāmin who knows all hearts, smiled. Having understood the inner relish of the moment, he then spoke.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), ‘having seen’

• चरितम्: deed, conduct
• चरितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरित (प्रातिपदिक; √चर्-धातुजन्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• शम्भुः: Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• कौतुकī: curious, playful
• कौतुकī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कौतुकिन्/कौतुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• सूतिः: childbirth, delivery
• सूतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कृत्: doer; having done
• कृत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (one who has done)

• कृती: accomplished, capable
• कृती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृतिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (accomplished)

• अन्तर्यामी: inner controller (indweller)
• अन्तर्यामी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर्यामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विहस्य: having laughed
• विहस्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हस् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-समकक्ष अव्यय (gerund), ‘having laughed/smiled’

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्ध/अनन्तरार्थक अव्यय (particle: then/now)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्शभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), ‘having known’

• रसाम्: essence; taste; (here) the import
• रसाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रसा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• हरः: Hara (Śiva)
• हरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the episode; Shiva speaks next within the narrative)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents Shiva as Antaryāmī—Pati who knows the inner movements of all beings—showing that divine grace operates with perfect insight, even when expressed through playful līlā.

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

By naming Shiva as Śambhu and Hara who ‘knows within,’ the verse supports Saguna devotion (personal Lord who responds) while implying the Linga’s deeper meaning: the formless consciousness present as the inner ruler.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Antaryāmī-bhāvanā (meditation on Shiva within the heart) paired with japa of the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating awareness that Shiva witnesses and guides one’s inner state.