Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 22

संध्याचरित्रवर्णनम् (Sandhyā-caritra-varṇana) — “Account of Sandhyā’s Story”

Devanagari script

पश्यतां मानसानां च मुनीनां भावितात्मनाम् । दृष्ट्वैव माममर्यादं सकाममभवन्मनः

Transliteration

paśyatāṃ mānasānāṃ ca munīnāṃ bhāvitātmanām | dṛṣṭvaiva māmamaryādaṃ sakāmamabhavanmanaḥ

Translation

Walaupun para muni—yang menundukkan minda dan berjiwa kontemplatif—sedang menyaksikan, sebaik sahaja mereka melihat aku bertindak tanpa batas adab, hati mereka pun terus terusik oleh nafsu keinginan.

Word by Word

• पश्यताम्: of (those) watching
• पश्यताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पश्यत् (√पश् धातु, शतृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त ‘seeing’ (of those who were watching)

• मानसानाम्: of the mind-born ones (Mānasas)
• मानसानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• मुनीनाम्: of sages
• मुनीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• भावित-आत्मनाम्: of self-controlled (disciplined) ones
• भावित-आत्मनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भावित (√भू/भावय् धातु, क्त) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘भावितः आत्मा येषाम्’ (whose selves are disciplined/meditated)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अमर्यादम्: improper/beyond bounds
• अमर्यादम्: Karma-pravacaniya/Predicative (विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमर्याद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; predicative adjective to ‘मनः’ via ‘अभवत्’

• सकामम्: desirous
• सकामम्: Predicative (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘with desire’

• अभवत्: became
• अभवत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist/Imperfect-like past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

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

Speaker

Satī (narration within Sati-khaṇḍa, as related by Sūta Gosvāmin)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Sati
• Munis

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that even advanced ascetics can be destabilized when the mind meets an object that provokes kāma; in Shaiva Siddhanta, liberation requires the mind to be purified and made steady so the soul (paśu) is no longer bound by pāśa (impurities like desire).

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

It contrasts sense-provoked desire with devotion-centered contemplation: Saguna Shiva worship (including the Liṅga) redirects the mind from transient attraction to the stable, purifying focus on Pati (Shiva), aiding inner restraint (maryādā) and devotion (bhakti).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to stabilize the mind through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), coupled with disciplined conduct and meditative vigilance; this supports vairāgya and reduces the rise of kāma.