Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 6

सतीविरहानन्तरं शम्भोश्चरितम् / Śiva’s Conduct After Satī’s Separation

Devanagari script

गणानाभाष्य शोचंस्तां तद्गुणान्प्रे मवर्धनान् । वर्णयामास सुप्रीत्या दर्शयंल्लौकिकीं गतिम्

Transliteration

gaṇānābhāṣya śocaṃstāṃ tadguṇānpre mavardhanān | varṇayāmāsa suprītyā darśayaṃllaukikīṃ gatim

Translation

他向众迦那（Ganas）诉说，为她哀悼，并怀着极大的深情描述了她的美德——那些能增进爱意的美德，从而揭示了世俗往来的规律。

Word by Word

• गणान्: the gaṇas (attendants)
• गणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

• आभाष्य: having addressed
• आभाष्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-भाष् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; उपसर्ग: आ-; अर्थ: ‘having addressed/spoken to’

• शोचन्: lamenting
• शोचन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुच् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; परस्मैपदी-प्रयोग

• ताम्: her/that (woman)
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• तत्: of that/of him
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• गुणान्: qualities
• गुणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

• प्रेमवर्धनान्: love-increasing
• प्रेमवर्धनान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रेम-वर्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: प्रेम्णः वर्धनाः (increasing love)

• वर्णयामास: described
• वर्णयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वर्णय् (धातु; √वर्ण् + णिच्)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; णिजन्त (causative)

• सुप्रीत्या: with great affection
• सुप्रीत्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुप्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण/हेतु (instrumental: with great affection)

• दर्शयन्: showing
• दर्शयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु; √दृश् + णिच्)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; णिजन्त (causative)

• लौकिकीम्: worldly
• लौकिकीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लौकिकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण

• गतिम्: course/way/state
• गतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Purāṇic account to the sages, describing Śiva’s conduct in the episode)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Śiva’s lament and praise of Satī’s guṇas models bhakti within worldly conduct; devotees learn to transmute grief into remembrance and devotion.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganas
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It shows Śiva’s compassionate, instructive nature: even while grieving, he points beings toward dharma by honoring virtue and demonstrating how love and right conduct are sustained in the world—an outward expression of the Pati (Lord) guiding pashus (souls).

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

The verse highlights Saguna Śiva—personal, relational, and compassionate—whose actions educate devotees. Such narratives support Linga-worship by presenting Śiva not only as transcendent (nirguṇa) but also as immanent teacher who shapes devotees’ conduct through līlā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is bhakti with guṇa-smaraṇa (remembering and recounting divine virtues): recite the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while reflecting on Śiva’s compassion and cultivating loving, dharmic behavior in daily life.