Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 17

सतीसंक्षेपचरित्रवर्णनम् — Summary Description of Satī’s Narrative

Devanagari script

शक्तिं संसेव्य तत्प्रीत्योत्पादयामास तां तदा । दक्षादशिक्न्यां वीरिण्यां स्वपुत्राद्धरमोहने

Transliteration

śaktiṃ saṃsevya tatprītyotpādayāmāsa tāṃ tadā | dakṣādaśiknyāṃ vīriṇyāṃ svaputrāddharamohane

Translation

Matapos makipag-isa nang may pag-ibig sa Kanyang sariling Śakti, saka Niya Siya ipinamalas sa pag-iral. Siya’y lumitaw bilang anak na babae nina Dakṣa at Vīriṇī—si Satī—na sa kalaunan ay aakit maging si Hara (Śiva) bilang Kanyang minamahal.

Word by Word

• शक्तिम्: Śakti / the power (consort)
• शक्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• संसेव्य: having served/attended
• संसेव्य: Kriya (क्रियापूर्वक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सेव् (धातु) + सम् + ल्यप् (कृदन्त/अव्यय)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाल

• तत्-प्रीत्या: by/through that affection
• तत्-प्रीत्या: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम) + प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (तस्य प्रीत्या), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उत्पादयामास: brought forth/produced
• उत्पादयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत् + पद् (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; णिजन्त (causative)

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक (temporal adverb)

• दक्ष-अदशिक्न्याम्: in Dakṣa’s wife (Adashiknī/Asiknī)
• दक्ष-अदशिक्न्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + अदशिक्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (दक्षस्य अदशिक्नी), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• वीरिण्याम्: in the heroic woman
• वीरिण्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीरिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier)

• स्व-पुत्रात्: from (her) own son
• स्व-पुत्रात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (स्वः पुत्रः), पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• धर-मोहने: in the delusion (that) supports/holds (i.e., deep delusion)
• धर-मोहने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर (प्रातिपदिक) + मोहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (धरस्य मोहनम्/मोहनः), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (अर्थे: 'in the delusion/confusion')

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Śakti’s avatāra/prādurbhāva into Dakṣa’s lineage as part of divine līlā

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti
• Sati
• Daksha
• Virini
• Hara

FAQs

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

It presents Śiva and Śakti as inseparable—Śiva’s grace manifests through Śakti, who appears in the world (as Sati) to uphold dharma and reveal the path of devotion and liberation.

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

By showing Śiva’s divine play through Śakti’s embodiment, the verse supports Saguna worship—devotees approach the transcendent (Nirguṇa) Lord through manifest forms, including the Liṅga and the living presence of Śiva-Śakti in sacred narratives.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Śiva-Śakti unity while chanting the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and cultivate bhakti as the inner “service” (seva) that makes the heart fit for Śiva’s grace.