Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 33

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

Devanagari script

किमत्र बहुना देहे यश्चायं मम कालिमा । त्यक्त्वा सत्त्वविधानेन गौरी भवितुमुत्सहे

Transliteration

kimatra bahunā dehe yaścāyaṃ mama kālimā | tyaktvā sattvavidhānena gaurī bhavitumutsahe

Translation

À quoi bon tant parler de ce corps ? Rejetant cette noirceur qui est mienne, par la discipline du sattva (pureté), je suis résolue à devenir Gaurī.

Word by Word

• किम्: what (use is there)
• किम्: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्न-अव्यय (interrogative particle)

• अत्र: here/in this matter
• अत्र: Desha-adhikarana (देशाधिकरण/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देश-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• बहुना: with much (talk)
• बहुना: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; ‘with much (talk)’ (instrumental of measure)

• देहे: in the body
• देहे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• यः: which/that (who)
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative pronoun)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; संकेतार्थ (demonstrative)

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• कालिमा: blackness/dark hue
• कालिमा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालिमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• त्यक्त्वा: having abandoned
• त्यक्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable participle): ‘having abandoned’

• सत्त्व-विधानेन: by the sattva-method/rite
• सत्त्व-विधानेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: ‘by means of sattva-arrangement/rite’

• गौरी: Gaurī (the fair one)
• गौरी: Karma (कर्म/Object-complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृ-सम्बन्धे (predicate nominative with infinitive)

• भवितुम्: to become
• भवितुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive/तुमुन्): ‘to become’

• उत्सहे: I am able / I dare
• उत्सहे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत्सह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Parvati

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Gaurī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Gauri

FAQs

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

It presents inner transformation through sattva—purity, restraint, and disciplined tapas—showing that spiritual radiance (Gaurī) arises when tamasic heaviness and self-identification with the body are relinquished.

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

In Shaiva devotion, approaching Saguna Shiva (and the Linga as His gracious form) is supported by sattvic living—purity of mind and conduct—so the devotee’s consciousness becomes fit for steady worship, mantra, and contemplation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A sattva-oriented regimen: vows of purity, simple diet/fasting, japa (especially the Panchakshara, Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and focused tapas—practices commonly recommended in the Shiva Purana for inner cleansing before deeper worship.