Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 28

सतीदेव्याः योगमार्गेण देहत्यागः — Satī’s Yogic Abandonment of the Body

Devanagari script

तद्दृष्ट्वा ऋषयो देवाश्शक्राद्यास्समरुद्गणाः । विश्वेश्विनौ लोकपालास्तूष्णीं भूतास्तदाऽभवन्

Transliteration

taddṛṣṭvā ṛṣayo devāśśakrādyāssamarudgaṇāḥ | viśveśvinau lokapālāstūṣṇīṃ bhūtāstadā'bhavan

Translation

Seeing that, the sages and the gods—Indra and the others—together with the hosts of the Maruts, the Viśvedevas, and the guardians of the worlds, all fell silent at that moment.

Word by Word

• तत्: that (event)
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) — having seen

• ऋषयः: sages
• ऋषयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural

• देवाः: gods
• देवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural

• शक्राद्याः: those headed by Indra
• शक्राद्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural; समासः तत्पुरुष (शक्रः आदिः येषाम्)

• स-मरुद्गणाः: together with the Marut hosts
• स-मरुद्गणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ) + मरुत् + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural; समासः तत्पुरुष (मरुद्गणैः सहिताः)

• विश्वेश्विनौ: the two Aśvins
• विश्वेश्विनौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व + अश्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन — Masculine, Nominative (1st), Dual; समासः कर्मधारय (विश्वौ अश्विनौ)

• लोकपालाः: guardians of the worlds
• लोकपालाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक + पाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural; समासः तत्पुरुष (लोकानां पालाः)

• तूष्णीम्: silently
• तूष्णीम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तूष्णीम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• भूताः: having become; being
• भूताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग — Past participle, Nominative Plural Masculine

• तदा: then
• तदा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• अभवन्: they became
• अभवन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन — Past (imperfect), 3rd person plural

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmī

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Śakra)
• Maruts
• Viśvedevas
• Lokapālas
• Rishis

FAQs

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

The verse shows that even exalted beings—devas, world-guardians, and sages—become wordless before a higher Shaiva reality, pointing to reverent silence (mauna) and surrender to Pati (Śiva) beyond ordinary speech and ego.

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

Their silence reflects the devotional stance before Saguna Shiva—where the mind pauses in awe and receptivity. In Linga-worship too, the devotee approaches with humility, letting reverence and inner stillness become the offering.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice mauna (brief sacred silence) after japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), allowing the mind to rest in Śiva-bhāva; this complements simple worship with bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa as aids to steadiness.