Shloka 26

विष्णोः स्तुतिः—शिवसतीरक्षावचनम्

Viṣṇu’s Hymn and the Petition for Śiva–Satī’s Protection

Devanagari script

ततो वस्त्रं समुत्क्षिप्य सतीवक्त्रमहं मुने । अवेक्षं किल कामार्तः प्रहृष्टेनांतरात्मना

Transliteration

tato vastraṃ samutkṣipya satīvaktramahaṃ mune | avekṣaṃ kila kāmārtaḥ prahṛṣṭenāṃtarātmanā

Translation

ข้าแต่มุนี! จากนั้นข้าพเจ้าก็ได้เลิกผ้าขึ้นและจ้องมองไปยังใบหน้าของนางสตี แม้จะรุ่มร้อนด้วยกามราคะ แต่ส่วนลึกในใจของข้าพเจ้าก็เปี่ยมไปด้วยความยินดี

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then, thereafter
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), temporal adverb (कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण)

• vastram: cloth, garment
• vastram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vastra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• samutkṣipya: having lifted/raised up
• samutkṣipya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ut-kṣip (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया; धातु: क्षिप् (to throw) उपसर्ग: सम्+उत्

• satī-vaktram: Sati’s face
• satī-vaktram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satī (प्रातिपदिक) + vaktra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Genitive Tatpurusha): ‘सत्याः वक्‍त्रम्’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), उत्तमपुरुषार्थक; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• mune: O sage
• mune: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• avekṣam: I looked at
• avekṣam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष?; रूपम्: ‘अवेक्षम्’ = उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; धातु: ईक्ष् (to see) उपसर्ग: अव

• kila: indeed, as it were
• kila: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kila (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), hearsay/emphasis marker

• kāma-ārtaḥ: afflicted by desire
• kāma-ārtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक) + ārta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative): ‘कामेन आर्तः’ (afflicted by desire); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• prahṛṣṭena: with (a) delighted
• prahṛṣṭena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-hṛṣṭa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle) from √हृष्; नपुंसक/पुं? here instrumental: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• antar-ātmanā: with (my) inner self
• antar-ātmanā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antar (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: ‘अन्तरः आत्मा’ = inner self; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Rudra) narrating to a sage

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sati

FAQs

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

It portrays how powerful emotion arises even in sacred narrative, yet in Shaiva understanding it is ultimately gathered back into the antaḥkaraṇa (inner being) and purified—hinting that devotion can transform ordinary desire into a sanctified, God-centered love that supports dharma and spiritual maturation.

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna Shiva—Shiva in personal, relational līlā—showing that the Lord engages the world while remaining the inner Self. Linga-worship likewise trains the devotee to see Shiva both as immanent (near, lovable) and as the transcendent reality behind all forms.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is inward recollection (antaḥ-smaraṇa): steady the mind, repeat the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and contemplate Shiva as the indwelling Lord who refines emotion into devotion; if practiced with Tripuṇḍra and rudrākṣa, it supports steadiness and purity of intention.