Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 18

सतीकृतप्रार्थना तथा परतत्त्वजिज्ञासा — Satī’s Prayer and Inquiry into the Supreme Principle

Devanagari script

सा भक्तिर्द्विविधा देवि सगुणा निर्गुणा मता । वैधी स्वाभाविकी या या वरा सा त्ववरा स्मृता

Transliteration

sā bhaktirdvividhā devi saguṇā nirguṇā matā | vaidhī svābhāvikī yā yā varā sā tvavarā smṛtā

Translation

女神啊，奉爱（bhakti）被认为有两类：有相有德（saguṇā）与无相无德（nirguṇā）。其中，依戒律仪轨而行的奉爱（vaidhī）与自然而自发的奉爱（svābhāvikī）——前者被视为更殊胜，后者则被记为较下。

Word by Word

• सा: that
• सा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भक्तिः: devotion
• भक्तिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• द्विविधा: twofold
• द्विविधा: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्या) + विधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास: ‘twofold’; विशेषण of भक्तिः

• देवि: O Goddess
• देवि: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• स-गुणा: with attributes (saguṇā)
• स-गुणा: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/अव्यय-पूर्वपद) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (सह/युक्तार्थ): ‘with qualities’; विशेषण of भक्तिः (one type)

• निर्गुणा: without attributes (nirguṇā)
• निर्गुणा: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर् (उपसर्ग) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘without qualities’; विशेषण of भक्तिः (other type)

• मता: is considered
• मता: कर्तृ-सम्बन्धी विधेय (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन् (धातु) → मत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) used as predicate: ‘considered/held to be’

• वैधी: scripturally enjoined/ritual (vaidhī)
• वैधी: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैधी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (one subtype of bhakti)

• स्वाभाविकी: natural/spontaneous (svābhāvikī)
• स्वाभाविकी: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वभाव (प्रातिपदिक) + इक (तद्धित)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तद्धितान्त (derived adjective) meaning ‘natural/spontaneous’

• या: which (one)
• या: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; correlating)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; यत्-प्रयोग (relative)

• या: which (one)
• या: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; correlating)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (repetition for distribution)

• वरा: superior
• वरा: कर्तृ-सम्बन्धी विधेय (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (predicate): ‘superior’

• सा: that (one)
• सा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तद्-प्रयोग (correlative)

• तु: but/and
• तु: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (adversative/contrast particle)

• अवरा: inferior
• अवरा: कर्तृ-सम्बन्धी विधेय (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (predicate): ‘inferior’

• स्मृता: is called/considered
• स्मृता: कर्तृ-सम्बन्धी विधेय (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) → स्मृत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) used as predicate: ‘is said/remembered as’

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse classifies bhakti and emphasizes that disciplined, scripture-aligned devotion stabilizes the mind and aligns the soul (paśu) with Shiva (Pati), preparing it for grace and liberation—moving from form-based worship toward transcendent realization.

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

Saguṇa bhakti naturally includes Linga worship, mantra-japa, and temple observances. The verse highlights vaidhī bhakti—worship performed as taught in scripture—supporting steady devotion to Saguna Shiva, which can mature into nirguṇa-oriented insight.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to vaidhī practice: daily Panchākṣarī japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), Linga pūjā with proper rules, and supportive disciplines like wearing rudrākṣa and applying tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as part of regulated Shaiva sādhanā.