Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 29

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

Prelude to Detailed Narrative

Devanagari script

इतीदृशीं सतीं दृष्ट्वा शिवलीलां विमोहनीम् । सुविस्मिता शिवं प्राह शिवमायाविमोहिता

Transliteration

itīdṛśīṃ satīṃ dṛṣṭvā śivalīlāṃ vimohanīm | suvismitā śivaṃ prāha śivamāyāvimohitā

Translation

เมื่อเห็นสตีในสภาพเช่นนั้น และประจักษ์ลีลาของพระศิวะอันทำให้หลงใหล นางก็ตกตะลึงยิ่ง ถูกมายาของพระศิวะครอบงำ แล้วจึงกราบทูลพระศิวะ.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक अव्यय (quotative/connector)

• ईदृशीम्: such
• ईदृशीम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सतीम् विशेषयति

• सतीम्: Satī
• सतीम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: पूर्वकाल (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive) ‘having seen’

• शिवलीलाम्: Śiva’s play
• शिवलीलाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवलीला (प्रातिपदिक) = शिव + लीला
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य लीला)

• विमोहनीम्: bewildering/enchanted
• विमोहनीम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विमोहनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; शिवलीलाम् विशेषयति

• सुविस्मिता: greatly astonished
• सुविस्मिता: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुविस्मित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषण (सती)

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• प्राह: said
• प्राह: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आह्/अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; ‘said/spoke’

• शिवमायाविमोहिता: bewildered by Śiva’s māyā
• शिवमायाविमोहिता: कर्ता-विशेषण (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिवमायाविमोहित (प्रातिपदिक) = शिवमाया + विमोहित
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (शिवमायया विमोहिता)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Satī–Śiva episode to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sati

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that even exalted beings can be momentarily bewildered by Śiva’s Māyā, underscoring Śiva as Pati (the Lord) whose līlā governs experience; liberation arises through devotion and right discernment rather than mere astonishment at phenomena.

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

Śiva’s ‘vimohanī līlā’ points to Saguna Śiva’s accessible manifestation that devotees can approach in worship (including Liṅga-upāsanā), while remembering that forms and events are within Māyā and should lead the mind toward the transcendent Lord behind them.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with steady bhakti to pierce māyic bewilderment; supporting disciplines like Tripuṇḍra-bhasma and Rudrākṣa can be adopted as Shaiva aids to remembrance and inner purity.