Shloka 36

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

Prelude to Detailed Narrative

Devanagari script

तदाकर्ण्य वचस्सत्याश्शंकरः परमेश्वरः । तदा विहस्य स प्राह सतीं लीलाविशारदः

Transliteration

tadākarṇya vacassatyāśśaṃkaraḥ parameśvaraḥ | tadā vihasya sa prāha satīṃ līlāviśāradaḥ

Translation

ครั้นทรงสดับถ้อยคำของพระสตีแล้ว พระศังกรผู้เป็นปรเมศวรทรงแย้มสรวล ผู้ชำนาญในลีลาเทพจึงตรัสกับพระสตีในกาลนั้น.

Word by Word

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण/time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (temporal adverb)

• आकर्ण्य: having heard
• आकर्ण्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/absolutive circumstance)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + कर्ण्/कृ (धातु; √कर्ण् ‘to hear’)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययार्थे ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund); ‘having heard’

• वचः: words
• वचः: Karma (कर्म/object of hearing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (collective ‘speech/words’)

• सत्यायाः: of Satī
• सत्यायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• शंकरः: Śaṅkara
• शंकरः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• परमेश्वरः: the Supreme Lord
• परमेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (parama īśvaraḥ)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण/time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (temporal adverb)

• विहस्य: having smiled
• विहस्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/absolutive circumstance)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + हस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययार्थे ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund); ‘having smiled/laughed’

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• प्राह: said
• प्राह: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अह्/ब्रू (धातु; √अह् ‘to say’)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect/परोक्षभूत); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सतीम्: to Satī
• सतीम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/recipient; addressee)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• लीला-विशारदः: skilled in divine play
• लीला-विशारदः: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लीला (प्रातिपदिक) + विशारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘skilled in play/sport’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the dialogue of Lord Shiva to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sati

FAQs

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

It shows Parameśvara Śiva responding to Satī with a gentle smile—signifying compassionate mastery and divine grace (anugraha) guiding the devotee through loving instruction rather than harshness.

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

By portraying Śiva as the approachable, responsive Lord in līlā, the verse supports Saguna devotion—worshiping Śiva as a personal, gracious deity, as commonly expressed through Liṅga-pūjā and remembrance of his deeds.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is smaraṇa (devotional remembrance) of Śiva’s gracious presence while repeating the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—cultivating calm, receptive attention before seeking guidance in prayer or meditation.