Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 16

दाक्षयज्ञप्रस्थान-प्रश्नः

Satī Inquires about the Departure for Dakṣa’s Sacrifice

Devanagari script

अथ शंभुर्महालीलस्सर्वेशस्सुखदस्सताम् । सतीमुवाच त्वरितं गणमध्यस्थ आदरात्

Transliteration

atha śaṃbhurmahālīlassarveśassukhadassatām | satīmuvāca tvaritaṃ gaṇamadhyastha ādarāt

Translation

แล้วพระศัมภู—ผู้มีลีลาอันยิ่งใหญ่พิสดาร เป็นเจ้าเหนือสรรพสิ่ง และประทานสุขแก่ผู้มีคุณธรรม—ประทับท่ามกลางหมู่คณะคณะ (คณะของพระองค์) แล้วตรัสกับพระสตีโดยฉับไวด้วยความเคารพ

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (sequencer)

• शंभुः: Śambhu
• शंभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — nominative singular

• महालीलः: of great sport (playful)
• महालीलः: Viśeṣaṇa of ‘शंभुः’ (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + लील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — nominative singular; कर्मधारय ‘of great play/sport’

• सर्वेशः: lord of all
• सर्वेशः: Apposition to ‘शंभुः’ (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — nominative singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘lord of all’

• सुखदः: giver of happiness
• सुखदः: Viśeṣaṇa of ‘शंभुः’ (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — nominative singular; उपपद-तत्पुरुष ‘giver of happiness’

• सताम्: of the good (people)
• सताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन — genitive plural

• सतीम्: Satī
• सतीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — accusative singular

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — perfect 3rd sg

• त्वरितम्: quickly
• त्वरितम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्वरित (कृदन्त; √त्वर् धातु, क्त)
• Form: अव्ययवत् क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverbial accusative) — ‘quickly’

• गणमध्यस्थः: standing amid the gaṇas
• गणमध्यस्थः: Viśeṣaṇa of ‘शंभुः’ (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गण + मध्य + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — nominative singular; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष ‘standing in the midst of the gaṇas’

• आदरात्: out of respect
• आदरात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (अपादान), एकवचन — ablative singular; कारणार्थे ‘out of respect’

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Śambhu)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sati
• Ganas

FAQs

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

It presents Śiva as Sarveśvara (Lord of all) whose līlā uplifts devotees, and it highlights the Shaiva Siddhānta emphasis that the Lord graciously guides the virtuous through compassionate, respectful instruction.

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

By depicting Śiva tangibly present—amidst his gaṇas and speaking to Satī—it supports Saguna worship: devotees approach the manifest Lord with reverence, which naturally extends to honoring the Śiva-liṅga as his accessible, grace-bestowing presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The key takeaway is ādarā (reverent devotion): approach Śiva with respectful attention—such as japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and mindful worship—so the heart becomes aligned with the “satām” (virtuous) disposition praised here.