Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 3
सती-शिवचरित्रप्रसङ्गः / The Account of Satī and Śiva’s Divine Conduct
Prelude to Detailed Narrative
ब्रह्मोवाच । सतीशिवचरित्रं च शृणु मे प्रेमतो मुने । लौकिकीं गतिमाश्रित्य चिक्रीडाते सदान्वहम्
brahmovāca | satīśivacaritraṃ ca śṛṇu me premato mune | laukikīṃ gatimāśritya cikrīḍāte sadānvaham
ബ്രഹ്മാവ് പറഞ്ഞു—ഹേ മുനേ, സ്നേഹത്തോടെ എന്റെ വാക്കുകളിൽ നിന്ന് സതി-ശിവരുടെ പാവനചരിത്രം കേൾക്കുക. ലൗകികാചാരം ആശ്രയിച്ച് അവർ ഇരുവരും ദിനംപ്രതി നിരന്തരം ക്രീഡിച്ചു.
Brahma
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Shakti Form: Satī
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It teaches that the Supreme Lord (Śiva) and Śakti (Satī) may appear to follow ordinary worldly ways, yet their actions are divine līlā meant to guide beings toward devotion and right understanding rather than mere literal imitation.
By emphasizing Śiva’s accessible, “worldly” mode (laukikī gati), the verse supports Saguna worship—approaching Śiva through relatable forms and stories, which naturally culminate in reverence for the Liṅga as the enduring, worship-worthy presence of Śiva.
The direct practice implied is loving śravaṇa (devotional listening) of Śiva-kathā; as a takeaway, one may pair it with daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to internalize the bhakti mood evoked by Satī–Śiva līlā.