Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

सुप्रसन्नं प्रभुं नत्वा सा दक्षतनया सती । उवाच सांजलिर्भक्त्या विनयावनता ततः

Transliteration

suprasannaṃ prabhuṃ natvā sā dakṣatanayā satī | uvāca sāṃjalirbhaktyā vinayāvanatā tataḥ

Translation

向至为慈悦的主顶礼之后，达叉之女萨蒂便合掌而语，满怀奉爱，谦恭俯首。

Word by Word

• सु-प्रसन्नम्: very pleased
• सु-प्रसन्नम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय) + प्रसन्न (कृदन्त; √सद्/√सन्? ‘to be clear/pleased’, with प्र-; here adjective stem प्रसन्न)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; Accusative singular; कर्मधारय ‘very pleased’

• प्रभुम्: the Lord
• प्रभुम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; Accusative singular

• नत्वा: having bowed to
• नत्वा: पूर्वकाल (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/क्त्वा), अव्यय; ‘having bowed’

• सा: she
• सा: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; Nominative singular pronoun

• दक्ष-तनया: Dakṣa's daughter
• दक्ष-तनया: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + तनया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; Nominative singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘daughter of Dakṣa’

• सती: Satī
• सती: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; Nominative singular; apposition

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Perfect 3rd sg

• स-अञ्जलिः: with folded hands
• स-अञ्जलिः: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत् ‘with’) + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; Nominative singular; अव्ययीभाव ‘with folded hands’

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• विनय-अवनता: humbly bowed
• विनय-अवनता: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विनय (प्रातिपदिक) + अवनत (कृदन्त; √नम् (नमने) क्त, with अव- उपसर्ग)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; Nominative singular; तत्पुरुष ‘bowed down through humility’

• ततः: then
• ततः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रमवाचक-अव्यय; adverb (‘then/thereupon’)

Speaker

Sati

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sati
• Daksha

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the Shaiva Siddhanta emphasis on approaching Pati (Lord Shiva) through bhakti (devotion) and vinaya (humility). Inner reverence—shown by bowing and añjali—purifies the pashu (individual soul) and prepares it to receive Shiva’s grace.

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

Sati’s bowing to the “prabhu” reflects the devotional posture used in Saguna Shiva worship, including Linga-puja: honoring Shiva as the accessible Lord who responds to devotion. The external gesture (añjali/namaskara) expresses inner surrender, a key mood in Linga worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice añjali and namaskara before Shiva—mentally or before a Shiva Linga—beginning japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a humble, surrendered attitude. The verse primarily teaches the bhava (inner disposition) that empowers mantra and puja.