Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

चक्रुर्निवेदनं देवाः स्वदुःखस्यारिपीडनात् । यथा च ददतुः शुम्भनिशुम्भौ वरसम्मदात्

Transliteration

cakrurnivedanaṃ devāḥ svaduḥkhasyāripīḍanāt | yathā ca dadatuḥ śumbhaniśumbhau varasammadāt

Translation

Tourmentés par l’oppression de leurs ennemis et accablés de leur propre souffrance, les dieux présentèrent une supplication solennelle, exposant en détail comment Śumbha et Niśumbha, ivres de l’orgueil des dons obtenus, avaient agi.

Word by Word

• cakruḥ: they made/did
• cakruḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa Bahuvacana; Parasmaipada

• nivedanam: a submission, report, petition
• nivedanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nivedana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā Ekavacana

• devāḥ: the gods
• devāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Bahuvacana

• sva-duḥkhasya: of their own suffering
• sva-duḥkhasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘svam duḥkham’; Napumsaka, Ṣaṣṭhī Ekavacana

• ari-pīḍanāt: from the oppression by enemies
• ari-pīḍanāt: Apādāna (अपादान) / Hetu
• Type: Noun
• Root: ari (प्रातिपदिक) + pīḍana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘arīṇāṃ pīḍanam’; Napumsaka, Pañcamī Ekavacana; ablative of cause

• yathā: as, how
• yathā: Sambandha (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; comparative/illustrative adverb ‘as/how’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samucchaya-nipāta conjunction

• dadatuḥ: they two gave/granted
• dadatuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (दा)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa Dvivacana; Parasmaipada

• śumbha-niśumbhau: Śumbha and Niśumbha
• śumbha-niśumbhau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śumbha (प्रातिपदिक) + niśumbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva (द्वन्द्व) proper-noun compound; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Dvivacana

• vara-sammadāt: from the exhilaration (arising) from the boon
• vara-sammadāt: Apādāna (अपादान) / Hetu
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक) + sammada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘varasya sammadaḥ’; Puṃliṅga, Pañcamī Ekavacana; ablative of cause

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Shumbha
• Nishumbha

FAQs

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

The verse highlights nivedana (humble submission) as a turning-point: when the bound soul (and even the Devas) is pressed by suffering, the proper Shaiva response is surrender to the higher refuge (Pati), seeking grace rather than relying on ego or power.

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

Though the Linga is not named here, the narrative mood is one of seeking protection and restoration of dharma—core motives for approaching Saguna Shiva through Linga-worship, prayer, and formal supplication, acknowledging Shiva as the compassionate Lord who removes oppression.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is nivedana with bhakti: make a sincere petition before Shiva (ideally at a Linga), accompanied by japa of the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and a steady inner offering of one’s fear and burden to the Lord.