Shloka 11

नभोवाणी-दक्ष-निन्दा तथा सती-माहात्म्य-प्रतिपादनम् / The Celestial Voice Rebukes Dakṣa and Proclaims Satī’s Greatness

Devanagari script

सा सत्येव जगद्धात्री जगद्रक्षणकारिणी । अनादिशक्तिः कल्पान्ते जगत्संहारकारिणी

Transliteration

sā satyeva jagaddhātrī jagadrakṣaṇakāriṇī | anādiśaktiḥ kalpānte jagatsaṃhārakāriṇī

Translation

She indeed is Satī—the sustainer of the worlds and the protector of the universe. She is the beginningless Power (Śakti), and at the end of an aeon she becomes the agent of the world’s dissolution.

Word by Word

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; pronoun

• satye: in truth
• satye: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय-निपात (emphasis)

• jagat-dhātrī: supporter/sustainer of the world
• jagat-dhātrī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक) + dhātrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (jagataḥ dhātrī); Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• jagat-rakṣaṇa-kāriṇī: one who performs the protection of the world
• jagat-rakṣaṇa-kāriṇī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक) + rakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + kāriṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (jagataḥ rakṣaṇam) + उपपद-समास (kāriṇī); Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• anādi-śaktiḥ: beginningless power
• anādi-śaktiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anādi (प्रातिपदिक) + śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (anādī śaktiḥ); Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• kalpa-ante: at the end of the aeon
• kalpa-ante: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalpa (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (kalpasya antaḥ); Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• jagat-saṃhāra-kāriṇī: one who performs the dissolution of the world
• jagat-saṃhāra-kāriṇī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃhāra (प्रातिपदिक) + kāriṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (jagataḥ saṃhāraḥ) + उपपद-समास (kāriṇī); Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Shiva Purana account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: destructive

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: kalpānta (end of an aeon)

Characters & Entities

• Satī
• Śakti

FAQs

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

It presents Satī as the beginningless Śakti who operates the three cosmic functions—sustenance, protection, and dissolution—showing that liberation-focused Shaiva devotion honors Shiva together with His inseparable power.

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

In Linga and Saguna Shiva worship, devotees revere Shiva as Pati (the Lord) while recognizing Śakti as His manifest power; this verse supports the Shiva Purana’s teaching that worship becomes complete when the devotee understands Shiva-Śakti as one reality in function.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to chant the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while contemplating Śiva-Śakti as the power behind creation, protection, and dissolution; offerings with bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa remembrance can be used to steady this meditation.