Shloka 3

सतीदेव्याः योगमार्गेण देहत्यागः — Satī’s Yogic Abandonment of the Body

Devanagari script

जलमाचम्य विधिवत् संवृता वाससा शुचिः । दृङ्निमील्य पतिं स्मृत्वा योगमार्गं समाविशत्

Transliteration

jalamācamya vidhivat saṃvṛtā vāsasā śuciḥ | dṛṅnimīlya patiṃ smṛtvā yogamārgaṃ samāviśat

Translation

Après avoir pris l’eau rituelle selon la règle et, pure, modestement couverte de son vêtement, elle ferma les yeux ; se souvenant de son Seigneur, Śiva, comme de son époux, Satī entra dans la voie du Yoga.

Word by Word

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘आचम्य’ इति कर्म

• आचम्य: having sipped (ritually)
• आचम्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + चम (धातु) → आचम्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वा-समकक्ष अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वकालक्रिया

• विधिवत्: properly
• विधिवत्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb: according to rule)

• संवृता: covered/clad
• संवृता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + वृ (धातु) → संवृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘शुचिः’/‘सा’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• वाससा: with garments
• वाससा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण (instrument: with garments)

• शुचिः: pure
• शुचिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृपद-विशेषण (pure)

• दृक्: eyes/sight
• दृक्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दृश्/दृक् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘निमील्य’ इति कर्म (eyes)

• निमील्य: having closed
• निमील्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + मील् (धातु) → निमील्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerund), पूर्वकालक्रिया

• पतिम्: husband
• पतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘स्मृत्वा’ इति कर्म

• स्मृत्वा: having remembered
• स्मृत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) → स्मृत्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (gerund), पूर्वकालक्रिया

• योग-मार्गम्: the path of yoga
• योग-मार्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग + मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (योगस्य मार्गः)

• समाविशत्: entered/undertook
• समाविशत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + विश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Sati
• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse links outer discipline (ācamanam and purity) with inner absorption: Satī turns inward, closes the senses, and fixes her awareness on Śiva as Pati, showing that devotion (bhakti) and yoga together lead the soul toward union with the Lord.

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

Although no Liṅga is named here, the practice is Saguna-focused: Satī meditates on Śiva as her personal Lord and husband (Pati). In Shaiva practice, such remembrance naturally aligns with Liṅga-worship, where ritual purity supports concentrated contemplation of Śiva’s gracious form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests ācamanam (ritual sipping of water), maintaining śauca (purity), and then pratyāhāra-like inward turning (closing the eyes) followed by dhyāna—steady remembrance/meditation on Lord Śiva as the chosen deity.