Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 54
सती-शिवचरित्रप्रसङ्गः / The Account of Satī and Śiva’s Divine Conduct
Prelude to Detailed Narrative
अपश्यदत्र स त्वां हि सीतान्वेषणतत्परम् । सलक्ष्मणं विरहिणं सीतया श्लिष्टमानसम्
apaśyadatra sa tvāṃ hi sītānveṣaṇatatparam | salakṣmaṇaṃ virahiṇaṃ sītayā śliṣṭamānasam
Là, il te vit—tout entier appliqué à la recherche de Sītā—avec Lakṣmaṇa, accablé par la séparation, l’esprit attaché à Sītā seule.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; the verse highlights the human-like līlā of Viṣṇu’s avatāra (Rāma) under the veil of tirodhāna—experiencing separation and search.
Significance: Invites devotees to see divine play within worldly emotions; encourages turning viraha into bhakti and inquiry into the highest refuge.
Shakti Form: Satī
Role: teaching
FAQs
It highlights ekāgratā (single-pointedness): even amid grief, the seeker’s mind remains fixed on the true aim, showing how intense longing and discipline can purify the heart—an attitude valued in Shaiva sadhana as a step toward grace (anugraha).
The verse models saguna-bhakti through focused remembrance: just as the mind clings to the beloved, the devotee is taught to hold the form and presence of Shiva—especially the Linga—as the steady support for attention, devotion, and inner transformation.
Practice japa with single-minded focus—especially the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and cultivate one-pointed dhyāna; supporting disciplines like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa can be adopted to stabilize remembrance and vairāgya.