Shloka 16

शिवसतीविवाहोत्तरलीला — Post‑marital Līlā of Śiva and Satī

Devanagari script

सरागौ चरणावस्याः पावकेनोज्ज्वलेन च । निसर्गरक्तौ कुरुते पूर्णरागौ वृषध्वजः

Transliteration

sarāgau caraṇāvasyāḥ pāvakenojjvalena ca | nisargaraktau kurute pūrṇarāgau vṛṣadhvajaḥ

Translation

The Bull-bannered Lord (Śiva), by a blazing fire, made her feet—already tinged with love—become naturally crimson, and caused them to be fully suffused with divine passion and auspicious radiance.

Word by Word

• सरागौ: reddened/with dye
• सरागौ: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सराग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), द्विवचन; विशेषण (qualifying चरणौ)

• चरणौ: (two) feet
• चरणौ: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), द्विवचन

• अस्याः: of her
• अस्याः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• पावकेन: with fire
• पावकेन: करण (Karaṇa/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पावक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करणवाचक

• उज्ज्वलेन: bright, blazing
• उज्ज्वलेन: करण (Karaṇa/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उज्ज्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying पावकेन)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• निसर्ग-रक्तौ: naturally red
• निसर्ग-रक्तौ: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निसर्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + रक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), द्विवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (निसर्गेण/स्वभावतः रक्तौ)

• कुरुते: makes
• कुरुते: क्रिया (Kriyā/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• पूर्ण-रागौ: fully dyed/deeply red
• पूर्ण-रागौ: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + राग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), द्विवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (पूर्णः रागः ययोः)

• वृष-ध्वजः: the Bull-bannered one (Śiva)
• वृष-ध्वजः: कर्ता (Kartā/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि-समास (वृषः ध्वजः यस्य सः) — शिवः

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmī (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sati

FAQs

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

It portrays Śiva’s grace working through a tangible sign—fire and radiance—showing that divine love (bhakti) can transform the devotee’s condition from ordinary emotion into sanctified, auspicious absorption in the Lord.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Śiva (Vṛṣadhvaja) acting compassionately in the manifest realm. In Linga worship too, the devotee approaches the formless through a manifest symbol, and Śiva responds by purifying and ‘colouring’ the heart with devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Śiva as inner fire (pāvaka) that purifies; in practice, combine Panchākṣarī japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with reverent lamp/flame offering (dīpa) and steady meditation on Śiva’s auspicious presence.