Shloka 1

Satyavrata, Vasiṣṭha, and the Crisis of Dharma: Protection, Anger, and Vow-Discipline

Devanagari script

सूत उवाच । सत्यव्रतस्तु तद्भक्त्या कृपया च प्रतिज्ञया । विश्वामित्रकलत्रं च पोषयामास वै तदा

Transliteration

sūta uvāca | satyavratastu tadbhaktyā kṛpayā ca pratijñayā | viśvāmitrakalatraṃ ca poṣayāmāsa vai tadā

Translation

Sūta said: Then Satyavrata, moved by devotion, compassion, and his pledged word, indeed maintained and supported Viśvāmitra’s wife as well.

Word by Word

• सूतः: Sūta (the narrator)
• सूतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• सत्यव्रतः: Satyavrata
• सत्यव्रतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य-व्रत (प्रातिपदिक; सत्य + व्रत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (one whose vow is truth)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); विरोध/विशेषार्थक

• तत्-भक्त्या: by (his) devotion
• तत्-भक्त्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद्-भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक; तद् + भक्ति)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (his devotion)

• कृपया: by compassion
• कृपया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृपा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• प्रतिज्ञया: by (his) vow/promise
• प्रतिज्ञया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विश्वामित्र-कलत्रम्: Viśvāmitra’s wife
• विश्वामित्र-कलत्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वामित्र-कलत्र (प्रातिपदिक; विश्वामित्र + कलत्र)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Viśvāmitra's wife)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• पोषयामास: maintained/nourished
• पोषयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पुष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative sense: caused to thrive/maintained)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Support of a sage’s spouse is dharma of ‘sthiti’ and aligns with Umāsaṃhitā’s broader valorization of household-protection under Śiva’s order; compassion and vow-keeping are treated as bhakti in action.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Suta Goswami
• Satyavrata
• Vishvamitra

FAQs

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

It highlights dharma as lived practice: devotion expressed through compassion and steadfastness to one’s vow—qualities praised in Shaiva ethics as purifying the soul (paśu) and loosening bondage (pāśa).

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

Though not directly mentioning the Liṅga, it reflects Saguna Shiva’s moral order: honoring truth, compassion, and duty is presented as aligned with Shiva’s dharmic governance and supportive of devotional life.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is vrata-dhāraṇa (firm observance of vows) with bhakti and dayā; one may pair this with daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to stabilize intention and truthfulness.