Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 25
संध्याचरित्रवर्णनम् (Sandhyā-caritra-varṇanam) — “Narration of Sandhyā’s Austerity and Encounter with Śiva”
स्त्रिया मया ते किं ज्ञेया निर्गुणस्य गुणाः प्रभो । नैव जानंति यद्रूपं सेन्द्रा अपि सुरासुराः
striyā mayā te kiṃ jñeyā nirguṇasya guṇāḥ prabho | naiva jānaṃti yadrūpaṃ sendrā api surāsurāḥ
โอ้พระผู้เป็นเจ้า ผู้ทรงเหนือคุณลักษณะ (นิรคุณ) ข้าพเจ้า—เป็นสตรี—จะรู้ ‘คุณ’ ของพระองค์ได้อย่างไร? แม้เหล่าเทวะและอสูร รวมทั้งอินทรา ก็ยังไม่รู้รูปแท้ของพระองค์.
Satī (addressing Lord Śiva)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Satī
Role: teaching
FAQs
Satī expresses devotional humility and affirms Śiva as Nirguṇa—transcending the three guṇas and conceptual grasp—showing that liberation comes through reverent surrender to Pati (Śiva), not through mere intellectual reach.
Though Śiva’s essence is Nirguṇa and unknowable even to the devas, devotees approach Him through Saguna supports like the Śivaliṅga, names, and forms—compassionate means by which the transcendent Lord becomes accessible to worship.
Meditate on Śiva as beyond attributes while performing simple bhakti—japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and Liṅga-pūjā—holding the attitude that His true nature surpasses thought and speech.