Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 20
सतीदेव्याः योगमार्गेण देहत्यागः — Satī’s Yogic Abandonment of the Body
शस्त्रैरघ्नन्निजांगानि केचित्तत्र शुचाकुलाः । शिरोमुखानि देवर्षे सुतीक्ष्णैः प्राणनाशिभिः
śastrairaghnannijāṃgāni kecittatra śucākulāḥ | śiromukhāni devarṣe sutīkṣṇaiḥ prāṇanāśibhiḥ
Wahai resi surgawi, di sana—diliputi oleh kesedihan—beberapa orang memukul anggota tubuh mereka sendiri dengan senjata; dan dengan bilah yang sangat tajam serta mematikan, mereka bahkan melukai kepala dan wajah mereka.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Bhairava
Shakti Form: Satī
Role: destructive
FAQs
It depicts how intense sorrow can bind beings (pāśa) into tamasic despair; Shaiva Siddhanta emphasizes returning to Shiva (Pati) through devotion and inner steadiness rather than being conquered by grief.
In moments of collective anguish, the Purana’s implied remedy is taking refuge in Saguna Shiva through worship—especially Linga-upāsanā and remembrance—so the mind turns from self-destruction to surrender and purification.
Replace agitation with Shiva-japa (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and stabilize the mind with simple worship such as offering water to the Linga; this redirects grief into bhakti and restraint.