Shloka 16
संध्याचरित्रवर्णनम् (Sandhyā-caritra-varṇana) — “Account of Sandhyā’s Story”
भर्गस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा सोपहासं च मां प्रति । आत्मनश्चलितत्वं वै ह्यमर्यादमृषीन्प्रति
bhargasya vacanaṃ śrutvā sopahāsaṃ ca māṃ prati | ātmanaścalitatvaṃ vai hyamaryādamṛṣīnprati
എന്നോടു പരിഹാസത്തോടെ ഭർഗൻ പറഞ്ഞ വാക്കുകൾ കേട്ടപ്പോൾ, എന്റെ ഉള്ളിൽ ധൈര്യം കുലുങ്ങുന്നതായി ഞാൻ തിരിച്ചറിഞ്ഞു; ഋഷിമാരോടുള്ള പെരുമാറ്റത്തിൽ മര്യാദാഭംഗവും കണ്ടു।
Satī (narrated within Sūta’s discourse)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shakti Form: Satī
Role: teaching
FAQs
It highlights that ridicule and disrespect (especially toward devotees and sages) destabilize the mind and violate dharma; Shaiva teaching emphasizes restoring inner steadiness and honoring maryādā as a foundation for pure devotion to Śiva.
Linga/Saguna-Śiva worship in the Shiva Purana is sustained by reverence and disciplined conduct; this verse shows that contempt and social impropriety obstruct bhakti, whereas honoring sages and devotees supports right worship and grace.
The implied practice is restraint of speech and mind (mauna-like discipline), avoidance of aparādha, and steadying oneself through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to regain composure and devotional clarity.