Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 51

दिव्य-भवन-छत्र-निर्माणः तथा देवसमाह्वानम्

Divine Pavilion and Canopy; Summoning the Gods

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्थं विचार्य बहुधा हृदा तामत्यजत्सतीम् । पणं न नाशयामास वेदधर्मप्रपालकः

Transliteration

brahmovāca | itthaṃ vicārya bahudhā hṛdā tāmatyajatsatīm | paṇaṃ na nāśayāmāsa vedadharmaprapālakaḥ

Translation

برہما نے کہا—یوں دل میں بہت طرح سے سوچ بچار کر کے اس نے اُس ستی کو ترک کر دیا؛ مگر ویدک دھرم کا پاسبان ہونے کے سبب اپنے عہد کو ترک نہ کیا۔

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• इत्थम्: thus
• इत्थम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इत्थम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (thus/in this manner)

• विचार्य: having considered
• विचार्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-चर् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त, gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having considered’

• बहुधा: in many ways
• बहुधा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहुधा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार/परिमाणवाचक-अव्यय (in many ways/many times)

• हृदा: with the heart/mind
• हृदा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन; करण (by/with the heart, i.e., in mind)

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; refers to सतीम्

• अत्यजत्: abandoned
• अत्यजत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अति-त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• सतीम्: Satī
• सतीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; object of अत्यजत्

• पणम्: wager; pledge
• पणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; object of नाशयामास

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• नाशयामास: destroyed (caused to perish)
• नाशयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: णि-नश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद; causative (णिच्): ‘caused to perish/destroyed’

• वेदधर्मप्रपालकः: protector of Vedic dharma
• वेदधर्मप्रपालकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रपालक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वेदधर्मस्य प्रपालकः)

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Sati
• Daksha

FAQs

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

It highlights how outward “dharma” can be used to justify inner rigidity: Dakṣa’s mind deliberates, yet he rejects Satī; the verse points to the Shaiva teaching that true dharma must be aligned with humility and devotion to Pati (Śiva), not ego-driven vows.

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

In the Satī–Dakṣa narrative, rejection of Satī implies rejection of Śiva’s presence in the sacrificial order; Linga/Saguṇa-Śiva worship emphasizes honoring Śiva as the indwelling Lord of all rites—without which ritual becomes spiritually barren.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to purify intention before ritual: perform worship with Śiva-bhakti—e.g., japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and offering with humility—so vows and rites support liberation rather than pride.