Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 6

सतीदेव्याः योगमार्गेण देहत्यागः — Satī’s Yogic Abandonment of the Body

Devanagari script

एवं स्वदेहं सहसा दक्षकोपाज्जिहासती । दग्धे गात्रे वायुशुचिर्धारणं योगमार्गतः

Transliteration

evaṃ svadehaṃ sahasā dakṣakopājjihāsatī | dagdhe gātre vāyuśucirdhāraṇaṃ yogamārgataḥ

Translation

Demikianlah Satī, kerana murka terhadap Dakṣa, ingin serta-merta meninggalkan tubuhnya sendiri. Setelah menyucikan diri dengan nafas yang teratur, beliau memasuki samādhi melalui jalan Yoga, sehingga anggota-anggota tubuhnya terbakar dalam api batin.

Word by Word

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय)

• sva-deham: her own body
• sva-deham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + deha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय: ‘svaḥ dehaḥ’), Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular

• sahasā: suddenly
• sahasā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sahasā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (सहसा = suddenly/quickly)

• dakṣa-kopāt: from Dakṣa’s anger
• dakṣa-kopāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + kopa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘dakṣasya kopaḥ’), Masculine, Ablative (5th; पञ्चमी), Singular

• jihāsatī: wishing to abandon
• jihāsatī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √hā (धातु) + san (सन्) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: Desiderative present participle (सन्नन्त-शतृ), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular; agreeing with Satī (implied)

• dagdhe: when (it was) burnt
• dagdhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dah (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Neuter, Locative (सप्तमी), Singular; locative absolute with gātre

• gātre: in/when the body-limb
• gātre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (सप्तमी), Singular; with dagdhe forming locative absolute

• vāyu-śuciḥ: pure like/through air (wind-pure)
• vāyu-śuciḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāyu (प्रातिपदिक) + śuci (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तृतीया/षष्ठी-सम्भव: ‘vāyunā śuciḥ’ / ‘vāyoḥ śuciḥ’), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; predicate adjective

• dhāraṇam: concentration/retention (dhāraṇā)
• dhāraṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular; object of implied verb (e.g., cakāra/akarot)

• yoga-mārgataḥ: by/according to the yogic path
• yoga-mārgataḥ: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yoga (प्रातिपदिक) + mārga (प्रातिपदिक) + tas (तस्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Ablatival adverb (तसिल्/तस्), from compound ‘yoga-mārga’; sense: ‘from/according to the path of yoga’

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Satī
• Dakṣa

FAQs

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

It portrays Satī’s decisive renunciation of an insult-bound body through yogic mastery, showing that spiritual power (yoga) is rooted in purity of prāṇa and unwavering resolve aligned with devotion to Śiva (Pati) over worldly pride (Dakṣa’s ego).

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

Dakṣa’s offense is essentially rejection of Śiva’s rightful worship; Satī’s act underscores that Śiva as Saguna Lord (Pati) is the true refuge, and that ritual without reverence to Śiva becomes hollow—supporting the Purāṇic emphasis on Śiva-pūjā and the Linga as the honored focus of devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to yogic practice—especially prāṇa-śuddhi (purification through breath) and dhāraṇā (steady concentration). The practical takeaway is disciplined breath-regulation and focused meditation, performed with devotion to Śiva rather than mere outward ritualism.