Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 26

सतीसंक्षेपचरित्रवर्णनम् — Summary Description of Satī’s Narrative

Devanagari script

यदा नाकारिता पित्रा मायामोहित चेतसा । लीलां चकार सुज्ञाना महासाध्वी शिवा तदा

Transliteration

yadā nākāritā pitrā māyāmohita cetasā | līlāṃ cakāra sujñānā mahāsādhvī śivā tadā

Translation

جب مایا سے فریفتہ دل والے باپ نے اسے نہیں بلایا، تب وہ نہایت پاکیزہ اور دانا شِوا (ستی) نے اپنی الٰہی لیلا کا آغاز کیا۔

Word by Word

• यदा: when
• यदा: कालाधिकरण (Time marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• न: not
• न: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• आकारिता: was summoned/called
• आकारिता: क्रियाविशेष-भाग (Predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त-क्त (Past Passive Participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘(she) was summoned’

• पित्रा: by (her) father
• पित्रा: कर्ता (Agent in passive/कर्तृकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• माया-मोहित: deluded by illusion
• माया-मोहित: करण-विशेषण (Qualifier of instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक) + मोहित (कृदन्त-क्त, मुह् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग? (cetasā सह—नपुंसकलिङ्गे), तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास ‘मायया मोहितम्’

• चेतसा: with mind
• चेतसा: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• लीलाम्: a play (divine sport)
• लीलाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• चकार: did/performed
• चकार: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• सु-ज्ञाना: very wise
• सु-ज्ञाना: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; कर्मधारय ‘अत्यन्तं ज्ञाना’

• महा-साध्वी: the great virtuous lady
• महा-साध्वी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + साध्वी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास

• शिवा: Śivā (Satī)
• शिवा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तदा: then
• तदा: कालाधिकरण (Time marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Sati
• Shiva
• Daksha

FAQs

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

It shows how Māyā can veil right discernment even in powerful beings, while Satī—identified as Śivā, the auspicious divine power—acts with clear wisdom, turning a worldly slight into a purposeful līlā that reveals dharma and devotion to Śiva.

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

Dakṣa’s Māyā-bound outlook contrasts with Satī’s Śiva-centered devotion; the episode underscores that true worship of Saguna Śiva (and the Liṅga as His accessible form) requires humility and bhakti rather than ego and social pride.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to counter Māyā and ego through steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” accompanied by simple Śiva-pūjā (liṅga-abhisheka) and inner remembrance of Śiva as Pati, the liberating Lord.