Shloka 43

सती-शिवचरित्रप्रसङ्गः / The Account of Satī and Śiva’s Divine Conduct

Prelude to Detailed Narrative

Devanagari script

शिव उवाच । शृणु मद्वचनं देवि न विश्वसिति चेन्मनः । तव रामपरिक्षां हि कुरु तत्र स्वया धिया

Transliteration

śiva uvāca | śṛṇu madvacanaṃ devi na viśvasiti cenmanaḥ | tava rāmaparikṣāṃ hi kuru tatra svayā dhiyā

Translation

ശിവൻ അരുളിച്ചെയ്തു—ദേവീ, എന്റെ വചനം ശ്രവിക്കൂ. മനസ്സ് വിശ്വസിക്കാത്തുവെങ്കിൽ, നിന്റെ സ്വബുദ്ധിയാൽ അവിടെ രാമനെ പരീക്ഷിക്കൂ.

Word by Word

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मत्-वचनम्: my words
• मत्-वचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्-वचन (प्रातिपदिक; मत् + वचन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (my words)

• देवि: O goddess
• देवि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• विश्वसिति: trusts
• विश्वसिति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विश्वस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• चेत्: if
• चेत्: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत् (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तबोधक-अव्यय (conditional particle: if)

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• तव: your
• तव: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• राम-परिक्षाम्: Rāma’s test
• राम-परिक्षाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम-परिक्षा (प्रातिपदिक; राम + परीक्षा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Rāma’s test/examination)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (indeed/for)

• कुरु: do
• कुरु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb: there)

• स्वया: by yourself
• स्वया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; आत्मवाचक-सर्वनाम

• धिया: with (your) intellect
• धिया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sati
• Rama

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Shiva’s compassionate guidance: when doubt arises, one should use calm discernment (dhī) rather than agitation, allowing truth to become firm through clarity and inner maturity—an aid on the path toward steadiness in devotion.

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

Though not directly about the Liṅga, it reflects the Saguna Lord’s role as guru—Shiva personally instructs the devotee to resolve doubt through discernment. In Liṅga worship too, faith (śraddhā) and right understanding stabilize the mind so devotion becomes steady and fruitful.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to apply viveka with prayerful focus: quietly contemplate Shiva’s instruction, then confirm understanding through disciplined inquiry and devotion—supported by japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to settle doubt and steady the mind.