Shloka 3

सतीप्राप्तिविषये ब्रह्मरुद्रसंवादः | The Brahmā–Śiva Dialogue on Attaining Satī

Devanagari script

मां वीक्ष्य लोकस्रष्टारमायांतं वृषभध्वजः । मनसा संशयं चक्रे सतीप्राप्तौ मुहुर्मुहुः

Transliteration

māṃ vīkṣya lokasraṣṭāramāyāṃtaṃ vṛṣabhadhvajaḥ | manasā saṃśayaṃ cakre satīprāptau muhurmuhuḥ

Translation

Seeing me—the creator of the worlds—approach, Vṛṣabhadhvaja (Śiva, whose banner bears the bull) again and again became doubtful in his mind about the gaining of Satī.

Word by Word

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• vīkṣya: having seen
• vīkṣya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund): ‘वीक्ष्य’ (having seen); धातु: √ईक्ष् उपसर्ग: वि

• loka-sraṣṭāram: the creator of the world
• loka-sraṣṭāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक) + sraṣṭṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘लोकस्य स्रष्टा’ (creator of the world); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• āyāntam: coming, approaching
• āyāntam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-yā (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त (Present active participle): ‘आयान्तम्’; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (agreeing with लोकस्रष्टारम्)

• vṛṣabha-dhvajaḥ: Bull-bannered one (Śiva)
• vṛṣabha-dhvajaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक) + dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि: ‘वृषभः ध्वजः यस्य सः’ (he whose banner is a bull); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• manasā: with (his) mind
• manasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• saṃśayam: doubt
• saṃśayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃśaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• cakre: made, formed
• cakre: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (common in perfect): ‘चक्रे’

• satī-prāptau: regarding Sati’s attainment
• satī-prāptau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satī (प्रातिपदिक) + prāpti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘सत्याः प्राप्तिः’ (attainment of Sati); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• muhuḥ muhuḥ: again and again
• muhuḥ muhuḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: muhuḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), पुनरुक्ति

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: The epithet Vṛṣabhadhvaja evokes Śiva as Lord of beings (Paśupati) and dharma; the verse is more psychological-theological than sthala-specific.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Sati

FAQs

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

It shows that even as the supreme Pati (Lord Śiva), he models inner vigilance: when worldly factors and cosmic authorities approach, the mind can generate doubt. The verse highlights the Shaiva Siddhanta emphasis on mastering the mind (pāśa) so devotion and dharma remain steady.

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

Vṛṣabhadhvaja is a Saguna designation of Śiva, approachable through devotion, mantra, and pūjā. The narrative reinforces that Saguna worship steadies the mind when doubts arise, preparing the seeker to realize the deeper Nirguna reality that the Linga also signifies.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to pacify saṃśaya (doubt), along with simple Tripuṇḍra bhasma application and inward remembrance of Śiva as Pati (the liberating Lord).