Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 1

सतीसंक्षेपचरित्रवर्णनम् — Summary Description of Satī’s Narrative

Devanagari script

इति श्रीशिवमहापुराणे द्वितीयायां रुद्रसंहितायां द्वितीये सतीसंक्षेपचरित्रवर्णनं नाम प्रथमोऽध्यायः

Transliteration

iti śrīśivamahāpurāṇe dvitīyāyāṃ rudrasaṃhitāyāṃ dvitīye satīsaṃkṣepacaritravarṇanaṃ nāma prathamo'dhyāyaḥ

Translation

Thus, in the Śrī Śiva Mahāpurāṇa—within the Second (Rudra) Saṃhitā, in its second section—the First Chapter is entitled “The concise narration of Satī’s life and sacred episode.”

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-समाप्ति-बोधक अव्यय (quotative/closure particle)

• श्रीशिवमहापुराणे: in the Śrī Śiva Mahāpurāṇa
• श्रीशिवमहापुराणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री + शिव + महापुराण (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ग्रन्थ-नाम (in the Śrī-Śiva-Mahāpurāṇa)

• द्वितीयायाम्: in the second
• द्वितीयायाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वितीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying रुद्रसंहितायाम्)

• रुद्रसंहितायाम्: in the Rudra-saṃhitā
• रुद्रसंहितायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र + संहिता (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विभाग-नाम (in the Rudra-saṃhitā)

• द्वितीये: in the second (section/chapter)
• द्वितीये: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वितीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying अध्याये—understood)

• सतीसंक्षेपचरित्रवर्णनम्: ‘description of Satī’s brief life-story’
• सतीसंक्षेपचरित्रवर्णनम्: Samjna (संज्ञा/Title)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सती + संक्षेप + चरित्र + वर्णन (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अध्याय-शीर्षक (chapter title)

• नाम: named
• नाम: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: संज्ञा-निर्देशक निपात (particle meaning ‘named/called’)

• प्रथमः: first
• प्रथमः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying अध्यायः)

• अध्यायः: chapter
• अध्यायः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; heading statement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrative colophon marker within Suta’s discourse to the sages)

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: This is a colophon/title marker naming the chapter on Satī’s concise life narrative; it does not present a localized origin legend.

Significance: Colophons function as textual maṅgala and navigational markers for pāṭha traditions; reciters treat them as affirmations of śrī and śubha framing the discourse.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sati

FAQs

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

This is a chapter-colophon that formally opens the Satīkhaṇḍa narrative, signaling a focused teaching through Satī’s episode—how unwavering devotion to Śiva (Pati) and discernment regarding worldly bonds (pāśa) orient the seeker toward liberation.

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

By introducing Satī’s story within Rudra Saṃhitā, it frames Śiva’s saguna-līlā (personal, relational divine play) as a means to understand the nirguṇa truth—devotees approach Śiva in accessible forms (including Liṅga worship) while realizing His supreme, transcendent nature.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

As an opening marker, it implies sādhana through śravaṇa (devotional listening/recitation) of Śiva-kathā; a fitting practice is to begin the chapter with Pañcākṣarī japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and a simple offering of bilva leaves to the Liṅga.