Shloka 24

शिवसतीविवाहोत्तरलीला — Post‑marital Līlā of Śiva and Satī

Devanagari script

कदाचिन्मदनोन्मादचेतनः प्रमथाधिपः । चकार नर्म शर्माणि तथाकृत्प्रियया मुदा

Transliteration

kadācinmadanonmādacetanaḥ pramathādhipaḥ | cakāra narma śarmāṇi tathākṛtpriyayā mudā

Translation

Once, the lord of the Pramathas, his mind stirred by love-maddened exhilaration, playfully indulged in jests and gentle delights, rejoicing with his beloved who answered in the same spirit.

Word by Word

• kadācit: once, at some time
• kadācit: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kadācit (कदाचित् अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• madana-unmāda-cetanaḥ: whose mind was crazed by passion
• madana-unmāda-cetanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: madana (मदन प्रातिपदिक) + unmāda (उन्माद प्रातिपदिक) + cetana (चेतन प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘one whose consciousness is (affected) by love-madness’

• pramatha-adhipaḥ: the lord of the Pramathas
• pramatha-adhipaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pramatha (प्रमथ प्रातिपदिक) + adhipa (अधिप प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘lord of the Pramathas’

• cakāra: did, made
• cakāra: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada

• narma: jesting, playfulness
• narma: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: narman (नर्मन् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• śarmāṇi: comforts/pleasures
• śarmāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarman (शर्मन् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tathā: thus, in that manner
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (तथा अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय)

• akṛt: not done (before), unprecedented
• akṛt: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु) + a- (निषेध)
• Form: Past participial adjective (कृत्-प्रत्ययान्त), indeclinable stem used adjectivally; ‘not done / unmade’; here as qualifier in compound-like usage with ‘priyayā’

• priyayā: with the beloved
• priyayā: Sahakāraka/Instrument (सह/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: priyā (प्रिया प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; ‘with/by the beloved’

• mudā: with joy
• mudā: Hetu/Instrument (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mudā (मुदा प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; adverbial instrumental ‘with joy’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Pramathas

FAQs

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

It portrays Shiva’s divine play (līlā) in a human-like scene, teaching devotees to see the Lord as both intimate (saguna) and ultimately untouched by craving—so the mind learns devotion without bondage.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Shiva—relatable and present in narrative form—while Linga-worship grounds the devotee in Shiva as the transcendent Pati; together they balance personal devotion and metaphysical reverence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to steady the mind through japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and simple Shiva-puja (with bhasma/tripundra if one follows it), transforming emotional agitation into devotional remembrance.