Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 23

देवीयोगनिद्रास्तुतिḥ तथा चण्डिकायाः प्रादुर्भावः | Hymn to Devī Yogānidrā and the Manifestation of Caṇḍikā

Devanagari script

तं मोहय यथा चान्यां द्वितीयां सति वीक्षते । त्वदृते तस्य नो काचिद्भविष्यति मनोहरा

Transliteration

taṃ mohaya yathā cānyāṃ dvitīyāṃ sati vīkṣate | tvadṛte tasya no kācidbhaviṣyati manoharā

Translation

「彼を惑わせ、サティが他の女を第二の候補として見るようにせよ。だが汝を除いて、彼にとって心を奪う女は決して現れぬ。」

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; pronoun

• मोहय: delude (him)
• मोहय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुह् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; causative sense ‘cause to be deluded’

• यथा: so that, as
• यथा: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (manner ‘so that/as’)

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• अन्याम्: another
• अन्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; qualifies implied ‘woman’

• द्वितीयाम्: a second
• द्वितीयाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वितीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; appositional qualifier to अन्याम्

• सति: in/when Sati (is present)
• सति: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; proper name ‘Sati’ in locative (‘when/while Sati…’)

• वीक्षते: looks at, beholds
• वीक्षते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वीक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• त्वदृते: without you
• त्वदृते: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्वद् + ऋते (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोग; ‘ऋते’ = without; ‘त्वद्’ (2nd person pronoun stem) in ablatival sense; meaning ‘without you’

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

• नः: for us / our
• नः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नः (अव्यय/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम-अव्यय; अस्मद्-प्रयोग (1st person plural enclitic) — ‘for us/our’ (contextual)

• काचित्: any (woman)
• काचित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अनिश्चित-प्रयोग (indefinite)

• भविष्यति: will be
• भविष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मनोहरा: charming, captivating
• मनोहरा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनस्-हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (मनः हरति इति)

Speaker

Brahmā (inferred, narrating the divine arrangement leading to Satī’s union with Śiva)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sati

FAQs

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

It affirms Śiva’s singular, unshared union with Satī—symbolically teaching ananya-bhakti: the soul’s unwavering, exclusive orientation to Pati (Śiva) beyond all competing attractions.

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

In the Satīkhaṇḍa narrative, Śiva is approached as Saguna—personally responsive and relational—yet the verse points to his unique, non-substitutable reality, echoed in Liṅga-worship where one focuses on Śiva alone as the supreme refuge.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate one-pointed devotion to Śiva through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and steady dhyāna, reducing mental “second choices” that distract the heart from Śiva.