Shloka 6

संध्यायाः शुद्धिः सूर्यलोकप्रवेशश्च — Purification of Sandhyā and Her Entry into the Solar Sphere

Devanagari script

तस्याः पुरोडाशमयं शरीरं तत्क्षणात्ततः । दग्धं पुरोडाशगंधं तस्तार यदलक्षितम्

Transliteration

tasyāḥ puroḍāśamayaṃ śarīraṃ tatkṣaṇāttataḥ | dagdhaṃ puroḍāśagaṃdhaṃ tastāra yadalakṣitam

Translation

At that very instant, her body—made (as it were) of the sacrificial puroḍāśa—was burned. A fragrance like that of roasted puroḍāśa spread everywhere, though its source could not be perceived.

Word by Word

• तस्याः: of her
• तस्याः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive/षष्ठी), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम-रूपम्

• पुरोडाश-मयम्: made of puroḍāśa (sacrificial cake)
• पुरोडाश-मयम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुरोडाश (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचनम्; ‘मय’ = made of

• शरीरम्: body
• शरीरम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचनम्

• तत्-क्षणात्: immediately, at that very moment
• तत्-क्षणात्: अधिकरण/कालाधिकरण (Temporal adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; पञ्चमी-अर्थे (Ablative sense) ‘from that very moment/instantly’

• ततः: thereupon/from there
• ततः: अपादान/अन्वय (Ablative/sequence marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अपादान/क्रम (from there/thereupon)

• दग्धम्: burnt
• दग्धम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दह् (धातु) → दग्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (Past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘burnt’

• पुरोडाश-गन्धम्: the smell of puroḍāśa
• पुरोडाश-गन्धम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरोडाश (प्रातिपदिक) + गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (puroḍāśa-scent)

• तस्तार: (it) spread/extended
• तस्तार: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तॄ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• यत्: which/that
• यत्: कर्म (Karma/Object; relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative), एकवचनम्; सम्बन्धसूचकं (relative pronoun)

• अलक्षितम्: unnoticed, unperceived
• अलक्षितम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लक्ष् (धातु) → लक्षित (कृदन्त) + अ- (निषेध)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (PPP/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; नकारार्थक-उपसर्गेण ‘unnoticed’

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmī (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: destructive

Ritual Elements

Offering: homa

Characters & Entities

• Sati
• Daksha
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It marks the instant Satī relinquishes the embodied state, showing that ego-driven ritualism (yajña without humility and devotion) collapses, while true bhakti to Śiva transcends the body and worldly honor.

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

The verse contrasts external sacrificial offerings with inner surrender to Saguna Śiva; it implies that devotion to Śiva (often centered on the Liṅga) is superior to prideful yajña, because Śiva is the true recipient and sanctifier of worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to prioritize Śiva-bhakti over mere display: daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with humility, and simple Liṅga-pūjā (optionally with bhasma/tripuṇḍra) as an offering of the ego into Śiva’s grace.