Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 34

सतीप्राप्तिविषये ब्रह्मरुद्रसंवादः | The Brahmā–Śiva Dialogue on Attaining Satī

Devanagari script

उद्वाहविधिना सोपि पाणिं जग्राह हर्षितः । दाक्षायण्या वरतनोस्तदानीं वृषभध्वजः

Transliteration

udvāhavidhinā sopi pāṇiṃ jagrāha harṣitaḥ | dākṣāyaṇyā varatanostadānīṃ vṛṣabhadhvajaḥ

Translation

そのとき、正しい婚礼の作法に従い、牛旗の主（シヴァ）は歓喜して、肢体うるわしきダークシャーヤニー（サティー）の手を取り給うた。

Word by Word

• udvāha-vidhinā: by the marriage rite
• udvāha-vidhinā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udvāha (प्रातिपदिक) + vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masc.), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (3rd/करण), Ekavacana; तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः) ‘उद्वाहस्य विधिः’

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti (1st), Ekavacana; pronoun

• api: also
• api: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (particle)

• pāṇim: hand
• pāṇim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā vibhakti (2nd/कर्म), Ekavacana

• jagrāha: took/held
• jagrāha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: grah (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (past/imperfect), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• harṣitaḥ: delighted
• harṣitaḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: harṣita (कृदन्त; √hṛṣ (धातु) + kta)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana; past passive participle used adjectivally

• dākṣāyaṇyāḥ: of Dakṣāyaṇī (Satī)
• dākṣāyaṇyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dākṣāyaṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (fem.), Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (6th/सम्बन्ध), Ekavacana

• vara-tanoḥ: of the fair-bodied (lady)
• vara-tanoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक) + tanū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti, Ekavacana; कर्मधारयः ‘वरā तनूः’ (having a beautiful body)

• tadānīm: then/at that time
• tadānīm: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadānīm (अव्यय)
• Form: Kāla-avyaya (temporal adverb)

• vṛṣabha-dhvajaḥ: the one whose banner is a bull (Śiva)
• vṛṣabha-dhvajaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक) + dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana; बहुव्रीहिः ‘वृषभः ध्वजः यस्य सः’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sati
• Daksha

FAQs

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

It portrays Śiva as perfectly aligned with dharma—accepting Satī through proper vivāha-vidhi—showing that the Supreme (Pati) also sanctifies worldly life when it supports devotion, purity, and auspicious order.

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

By naming Śiva as Vṛṣabhadhvaja, the verse points to Saguna Śiva—worshipped with form, symbols, and attributes. Such narratives nurture bhakti that culminates in reverence for the Liṅga as Śiva’s accessible, sanctifying presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is dharmic observance with devotion: perform rites with purity and remembrance of Śiva—especially japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) during auspicious samskāras and on Mahāśivarātri.