Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

दत्ता च ब्रह्मणे देव्या शक्तिरेषा सनातनी । निशुंभस्य च शुंभस्य निहंत्री दैत्यसिंहयोः

Transliteration

dattā ca brahmaṇe devyā śaktireṣā sanātanī | niśuṃbhasya ca śuṃbhasya nihaṃtrī daityasiṃhayoḥ

Translation

Cette Puissance éternelle de la Déesse fut accordée à Brahmā ; elle est l’exterminatrice de Niśumbha et de Śumbha, les lions parmi les daityas.

Word by Word

• dattā: given
• dattā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dā (धातु) + kta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Kta-pratyaya PPP used predicatively; Strīliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana; agrees with 'śaktiḥ'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya (conjunction)

• brahmaṇe: to Brahmā
• brahmaṇe: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Caturthī vibhakti (Dative/4th), Ekavacana

• devyā: by the Goddess
• devyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā vibhakti (Instrumental/3rd), Ekavacana

• śaktiḥ: power / energy
• śaktiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana

• eṣā: this
• eṣā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (Pronoun) used adjectivally, Strīliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of 'śaktiḥ'

• sanātanī: eternal
• sanātanī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sanātanī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of 'śaktiḥ'

• niśuṃbhasya: of Niśuṃbha
• niśuṃbhasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśuṃbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti, Ekavacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya (conjunction)

• śuṃbhasya: of Śuṃbha
• śuṃbhasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuṃbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti, Ekavacana

• nihantrī: slayer
• nihantrī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ni-han (धातु) + tṛ (कृदन्त)
• Form: Tṛ-pratyaya agent noun, Strīliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana; predicate of 'śaktiḥ'

• daitya-siṃhayoḥ: of the two lion-like demons
• daitya-siṃhayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daityasiṃha = daitya + siṃha (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (Genitive/6th), Dvivacana (Dual)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Devi (Shakti)
• Nishumbha
• Shumbha

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes that Devi’s Śakti is sanātanī (eternal) and functions as the divine force that restores dharma by removing demonic obstruction—an expression of the Lord’s governance through His inseparable Power.

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

In Shaiva understanding, Saguna Shiva is worshiped with awareness that His action in the world is carried through Śakti; honoring the Liṅga includes reverence for the inseparability of Śiva-Śakti that protects cosmic order.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to combine Liṅga-pūjā with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), contemplating Śakti as the Lord’s active grace that destroys inner “demons” like pride and delusion.