Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

तथा तपश्चरन्तीं तां काले बहुतिथे गते । दृष्टः कश्चिन्महाव्याघ्रो दुष्टभावादुपागमत्

Transliteration

tathā tapaścarantīṃ tāṃ kāle bahutithe gate | dṛṣṭaḥ kaścinmahāvyāghro duṣṭabhāvādupāgamat

Translation

Ainsi, tandis qu’elle poursuivait ses austérités, après qu’un long temps se fut écoulé, un grand tigre l’aperçut et, poussé par une intention mauvaise, s’approcha.

Word by Word

• तथा: thus/then
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• तपः: austerity/penance
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपदत्वेन

• चरन्तीम्: performing (penance)
• चरन्तीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकर्तरि कृदन्त (present active participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘practising/performing’

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• काले: at a time
• काले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

• बहु-तिथे: after many days
• बहु-तिथे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक) + तिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘बह्वी तिथिः यस्मिन् काले’ (when many days had passed)

• गते: having passed
• गते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; लोकेटिव-अब्सोल्यूट (सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध) ‘when (time) had passed’

• दृष्टः: was seen/appeared
• दृष्टः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘seen/appeared (was seen)’

• कश्चित्: a certain
• कश्चित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चित् (अव्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक-सर्वनाम

• महाव्याघ्रः: a great tiger
• महाव्याघ्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + व्याघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘महान् व्याघ्रः’

• दुष्ट-भावात्: from wicked intent
• दुष्ट-भावात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘दुष्टस्य भावः’ (wicked disposition)

• उपागमत्: approached/came near
• उपागमत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आ-गम् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

It shows that sincere tapas is often tested by external dangers and inner negativity; the aspirant’s steadiness amid such trials is part of purification on the path toward Shiva (Pati) beyond fear and bondage (pāśa).

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

The narrative frames devotion as lived practice: when one’s mind is fixed on Saguna Shiva (as Linga and Lord), threats and disturbances become occasions to deepen surrender and one-pointedness rather than abandon worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain unwavering japa of the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and inner dhyāna during adversity; steadiness, fearlessness, and remembrance of Shiva are the implied sādhanā.