Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

स तु द्वादश वर्षाणि दीक्षां तामुद्वहद्बली । अविद्यामाने मांसे तु वसिष्ठस्य महात्मनः

Transliteration

sa tu dvādaśa varṣāṇi dīkṣāṃ tāmudvahadbalī | avidyāmāne māṃse tu vasiṣṭhasya mahātmanaḥ

Translation

Ce vaillant porta cette observance de dīkṣā durant douze années. Mais, lorsque la chair du grand d’âme Vasiṣṭha ne put être trouvée pour le rite, la situation devint une impasse redoutable.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधसूचक (particle: but/indeed)

• द्वादश: twelve
• द्वादश: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश (संख्याशब्द-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याविशेषण; द्विगु-समासभाव (twelve)

• वर्षाणि: years
• वर्षाणि: Kāla-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन; कालपरिमाण (duration)

• दीक्षाम्: initiation/vow
• दीक्षाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ताम्: that
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (दीक्षाम् इति अन्वय)

• उद्वहत्: he bore/carried on
• उद्वहत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वह् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: उद्-

• बली: the strong one
• बली: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies सः)

• अविद्यमाने: when absent/not existing
• अविद्यमाने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अविद्यमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विद् धातोः शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त (present participle) with negation अ-; सप्तमी, एकवचन, नपुंसक/पुंलिङ्ग; ‘when/while not being present’

• मांसे: in flesh/meat
• मांसे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मांस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• वसिष्ठस्य: of Vasiṣṭha
• वसिष्ठस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled (one)
• महात्मनः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies वसिष्ठस्य)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Vasistha

FAQs

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

It highlights steadfast dīkṣā (consecrated discipline) sustained over many years, implying that spiritual maturity in Shaiva thought comes through endurance, purity of intent, and patient removal of pāśa (bondage) rather than quick results.

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

Dīkṣā is the preparatory framework for approaching Saguna Shiva through ritual and vow: steadiness, purity, and right observance make one fit for Shiva’s grace, which is ultimately the decisive factor in removing limitation and granting spiritual fruition.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse primarily suggests sustained vrata/dīkṣā (a long-term disciplined observance). In Shiva Purana practice, this is commonly supported by daily japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), worship of the Linga, and purity disciplines such as bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa where appropriate.