Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 17

सत्याः पुनस्तपश्चर्या — Satī’s Return to Austerity (Tapas) and Fearless Liṅga-Worship

Devanagari script

दुष्टानामपि सत्त्वानां तथान्येषान्दुरात्मनाम् । स एव द्रावको भूत्वा विचचार तपोवने

Transliteration

duṣṭānāmapi sattvānāṃ tathānyeṣāndurātmanām | sa eva drāvako bhūtvā vicacāra tapovane

Translation

Même parmi les êtres mauvais, et de même parmi d’autres au cœur pervers, il devint lui-même celui qui les dissipait, et il erra dans la forêt des austérités.

Word by Word

• duṣṭānām: of the wicked
• duṣṭānām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; used adjectivally qualifying sattvānām

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, samuccaya/anuvṛtti particle (also/even)

• sattvānām: of beings/creatures
• sattvānām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• tathā: likewise/and
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction/adverb (and likewise/so)

• anyeṣām: of other
• anyeṣām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; used adjectivally with durātmanām

• durātmanām: of evil-minded ones
• durātmanām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: durātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; karmadhāraya: dur- (bad) + ātman (self) → durātman (evil-souled)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• eva: indeed
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, avadhāraṇa-particle (emphasis)

• drāvakaḥ: one who makes (them) run away / a disperser
• drāvakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: drāvaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• bhūtvā: having become
• bhūtvā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), from √bhū (to become)

• vicacāra: wandered about
• vicacāra: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: car (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ/लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; with prefix vi-; √car (to move/wander)

• tapo-vane: in the penance-grove
• tapo-vane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक) + vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; tatpuruṣa: tapasyaḥ vanaṃ → tapo-vana (forest of austerities)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It portrays the Shaiva idea that Shiva (Pati) is the dispeller of inner impurities—he drives away wickedness and bondage (pāśa) even in those of harsh nature, especially in the atmosphere of tapas where transformation becomes possible.

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

By describing Shiva as an active remover of negativity, it aligns with Saguna Shiva worship—devotees approach the Linga as the compassionate, present Lord who purifies the mind and dissolves obstacles to devotion and knowledge.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse points toward tapas and self-discipline supported by Shiva-upāsanā—regular japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and meditative retreat-like practice to drive away inner vices.