Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 21

सतीसंक्षेपचरित्रवर्णनम् — Summary Description of Satī’s Narrative

Devanagari script

तया विहरतस्तस्य व्यातीयाय महान् मुने । कालस्सुखकरश्शभोर्निर्विकारस्य सद्रतेः

Transliteration

tayā viharatastasya vyātīyāya mahān mune | kālassukhakaraśśabhornirvikārasya sadrateḥ

Translation

ഹേ മഹാമുനേ, അവളോടൊപ്പം വിഹരിക്കുമ്പോൾ ആ ശുഭപ്രഭുവിന്റെ കാലം സുഖകരമായി കടന്നുപോയി; അവൻ നിർവികാരനും സദ്വ്രതനുമാണ്.

Word by Word

• तया: with her
• तया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• विहरतः: of (him) sporting/playing
• विहरतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विहर् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/Present participle), परस्मैपद-धातु; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; ‘of (him) who is sporting’

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• व्यातीयाय: for the passing (of time)
• व्यातीयाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Dative-purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; दत्त/प्रयोजनार्थ (dative: ‘for passing’)

• महान्: great
• महान्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative-context)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• कालः: time
• कालः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• सुखकरः: pleasant, happiness-giving
• सुखकरः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुखकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः—सुख + कर (तत्पुरुष: ‘maker of happiness’)

• शभोः: of Śambhu (Śiva)
• शभोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; पाठदोष/दुर्लभ-रूप; सम्भाव्य-पाठः ‘शम्भोः’ (शम्भु-षष्ठी)

• निर्विकारस्य: of the changeless
• निर्विकारस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्विकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying Śambhu)

• सद्रतेः: of (his) true devotion (text uncertain)
• सद्रतेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सद्रति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; पाठदोष/दुर्लभ; सम्भाव्य-पाठः ‘सद्रतेः/सद्रते’ unclear; अर्थतः ‘सत्-रतेः’ (सत् + रति, षष्ठी) = ‘of one devoted to the good/true’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights Shiva as nirvikāra (unchanging Pati): though he participates in divine līlā, his essential nature remains beyond modification, and association with him transforms the experience of time into peace and joy.

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

The verse supports the Shaiva understanding that Saguna līlā (Shiva’s manifest play) reveals the Nirguna truth (his changeless essence). Linga-worship similarly points from form to the formless, from presence to transcendence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Shiva as nirvikāra while repeating the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), cultivating steadiness in vrata (sacred discipline) so that the mind experiences time as calm and auspicious.