Shloka 2

सती-शिवचरित्रप्रसङ्गः / The Account of Satī and Śiva’s Divine Conduct

Prelude to Detailed Narrative

Devanagari script

इदानीं ब्रूहि सत्प्रीत्या परं तद्यश उत्तमम् । किमकार्ष्टां हि तत्स्थौ वै चरितं दंपती शिवौ

Transliteration

idānīṃ brūhi satprītyā paraṃ tadyaśa uttamam | kimakārṣṭāṃ hi tatsthau vai caritaṃ daṃpatī śivau

Translation

À présent, dis-le avec une affection sincère : cette gloire suprême et excellente. En vérité, qu’accomplirent là-bas l’auguste couple divin—Śiva et Satī ? Décris leur récit sacré.

Word by Word

• इदानीम्: now
• इदानीम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: idānīm (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), temporal adverb (कालवाचक)

• ब्रूहि: tell (me)
• ब्रूहि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (लोट्, Imperative), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd/मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• सत्-प्रीत्या: with sincere love
• सत्-प्रीत्या: Karaṇa (करण/Instrumental means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + prīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); adverbial: 'with true affection'

• परम्: supreme, highest
• परम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies tadyaśaḥ

• तत्-यशः: that fame/glory
• तत्-यशः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + yaśas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); object of brūhi

• उत्तमम्: excellent, best
• उत्तमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); further qualifies tadyaśaḥ

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); interrogative object with akārṣṭām

• अकार्ष्टाम्: did (they two)
• अकार्ष्टाम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ-lakāra (लुङ्, Aorist), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd/प्रथमपुरुष), Dual (द्विवचन); from √kṛ with augment a-; 'they two did'

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle (निपात) expressing emphasis/reason

• तत्-स्थौ: being there, situated there
• तत्-स्थौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + stha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन); 'standing/being there' qualifying śivau/daṃpatī

• वै: indeed, surely
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), emphatic particle (निपात)

• चरितम्: deed, conduct, episode
• चरितम्: Karma (कर्म/act referred to)
• Type: Noun
• Root: carita (कृदन्त; चर् धातु)
• Form: Past participial noun (क्त/कृदन्त used as noun), Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); 'deed/act' as subject complement in question

• दम्पती: the couple (husband and wife)
• दम्पती: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dampatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन); apposition to śivau

• शिवौ: Śiva (the two, i.e., Śiva and Satī)
• शिवौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन); refers to Śiva (with Satī) as the pair

Speaker

The sages of Naimiṣāraṇya (questioning Sūta Gosvāmin in the Rudrasaṃhitā narration flow)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Inquiry verse asking for the ‘carita’ (sacred conduct) of the divine couple; not anchored to a Jyotirliṅga site.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sati

FAQs

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

The verse models śraddhā and bhakti: seekers request the “supreme glory” of Shiva and the lived example (carita) of Shiva with Sati, implying that hearing Shiva’s līlā with devotion purifies the mind and turns it toward Pati (the Lord) rather than worldly bonds.

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

By asking for Shiva’s ‘yaśas’ and ‘carita,’ the text emphasizes Saguna Shiva—Shiva known through compassionate acts and divine narrative. In Purāṇic practice, such śravaṇa (hearing) naturally supports Linga-bhakti, as devotees remember the Lord’s presence and offer worship with love.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The direct takeaway is śravaṇa-kīrtana (hearing and recounting Shiva’s deeds) with sat-prīti. Practically, this pairs well with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) before or after reading, and simple Linga-pūjā with reverent remembrance.