Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 4

सत्याः पुनस्तपश्चर्या — Satī’s Return to Austerity (Tapas) and Fearless Liṅga-Worship

Devanagari script

पुनस्तपोवनं गत्वा भूषणानि विसृज्य च । स्नात्वा तपस्विनो वेषं कृत्वा परमपावनम्

Transliteration

punastapovanaṃ gatvā bhūṣaṇāni visṛjya ca | snātvā tapasvino veṣaṃ kṛtvā paramapāvanam

Translation

Rồi lại đến khu rừng thánh của khổ hạnh, người ấy bỏ hết mọi đồ trang sức; sau khi tắm gội, liền khoác lên mình dáng vẻ của bậc tu khổ hạnh, thanh tịnh tối thượng.

Word by Word

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), ‘again’

• तपोवनम्: forest of austerities; hermitage-grove
• तपोवनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् + वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तपसः वनम्)

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having gone’

• भूषणानि: ornaments
• भूषणानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• विसृज्य: having discarded
• विसृज्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-सृज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having cast off/abandoned’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having bathed’

• तपस्विनः: of an ascetic
• तपस्विनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (genitive)

• वेषम्: dress; guise
• वेषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having made; having assumed
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having made/assumed’

• परमपावनम्: most purifying
• परमपावनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम + पावन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (परमं पावनम्) विशेषणम् (वेषम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Bhikṣāṭana

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

The verse highlights śuddhi (purification) and vairāgya (dispassion): one turns from external display to inner discipline, entering the tapovana mindset where tapas and self-restraint prepare the soul (paśu) to approach Pati (Śiva).

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

By discarding ornaments and adopting an ascetic form, the devotee aligns with the purity and simplicity expected before approaching Saguna Shiva in Linga-worship—reducing egoic identity and focusing on reverence, mantra, and disciplined presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A preparatory sequence is implied: bathing (snāna) for outer/inner cleanliness, followed by adopting a restrained sādhaka lifestyle (tapasvī-veṣa)—supporting japa of Shaiva mantras (such as the Panchakshara) and vrata-like observance.