Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

तथैवोपगतस्यापि तस्यातीवदुरात्मनः । गात्रं चित्रार्पितमिव स्तब्धं तस्यास्सकाशतः

Transliteration

tathaivopagatasyāpi tasyātīvadurātmanaḥ | gātraṃ citrārpitamiva stabdhaṃ tasyāssakāśataḥ

Translation

Même lorsque cet être au cœur très mauvais s’approcha, son corps se figea en sa présence, tel une figure peinte sur une toile.

Word by Word

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

• एव: just/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय

• उपगतस्य: of (him) who had approached
• उपगतस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; ‘of the one who had approached’

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-निपात (also/even)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• अतीव: exceedingly
• अतीव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतीव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (intensifying adverb)

• दुरात्मनः: of the very wicked one
• दुरात्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुरात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; निन्दार्थक-समासप्रातिपदिक (wicked-souled)

• गात्रम्: body/limb
• गात्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• चित्र-आर्पितम्: as if painted
• चित्र-आर्पितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आर्पित (अर्प्/अर्पय् धातु + क्त कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘चित्रेण आर्पितम्/चित्रवत् आर्पितम्’ (as if painted/depicted)

• इव: like/as if
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमार्थक-अव्यय (comparative particle)

• स्तब्धम्: stunned/rigid
• स्तब्धम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्तभ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘stiffened/immobile’

• तस्याः: of her
• तस्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• सकाशतः: from near (her)/in her vicinity
• सकाशतः: Apadana/Desha (अपादान/देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सकाश (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभावप्रयोग)
• Form: अव्यय (postposition-like adverb); ‘सकाशतः’ = ‘near/from the vicinity of’ (ablatival sense)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

It illustrates how adharma and cruel intent lose their momentum in the presence of sattva and inner purity—bondage (pāśa) becomes powerless when confronted by a higher spiritual presence.

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

In Shaiva thought, the presence of the sacred (Śiva as Saguna through worship, purity, and dharma) arrests lower impulses; devotion and sanctity act as a protective force that restrains wrongdoing.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain protective purity through regular japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined conduct; such sādhana cultivates an inner presence that neutralizes tamasic tendencies.