Shiva Purana — Satarudra Samhita, Shloka 5

Gṛhapati’s Vow: Turning Grief into Mṛtyuñjaya–Mahākāla Sādhana (गृहपतेः प्रतिज्ञा—मृत्युंजय-महाकालजपः)

Devanagari script

ततो दृष्ट्वा स पितरौ बहुशोकसमावृतौ । स्मित्वोवाच गृहपस्सबालश्शंकरांशजः

Transliteration

tato dṛṣṭvā sa pitarau bahuśokasamāvṛtau | smitvovāca gṛhapassabālaśśaṃkarāṃśajaḥ

Translation

随后，他见父母二人被深重忧苦所笼罩。那男孩——实为商羯罗（Śaṅkara）的一分化身——含笑开口，宛如一家之主。

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): thereafter/from there

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriya (क्रिया/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund): having seen

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• pitarau: (his) two parents
• pitarau: Karma (कर्म/Object of dṛṣṭvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), द्विवचन (Dual)

• bahu-śoka-samāvṛtau: overwhelmed by much sorrow
• bahu-śoka-samāvṛtau: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक) + śoka (प्रातिपदिक) + sam-āvṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन; तत्पुरुष: bahuśokena samāvṛtau = covered/overwhelmed by much grief

• smitvā: having smiled
• smitvā: Kriya (क्रिया/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smi (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund): having smiled

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• gṛhapatiḥ: the householder
• gṛhapatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛhapati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• sa-bālaḥ: as a boy/childlike
• sa-bālaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + bāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव: sa-bāla = along with/being a child (here: as a boy)

• śaṅkara-aṃśa-jaḥ: born of Śaṅkara’s portion
• śaṅkara-aṃśa-jaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṅkara (प्रातिपदिक) + aṃśa (प्रातिपदिक) + ja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: śaṅkarasya aṃśāt jātaḥ = born from a portion of Śaṅkara

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It shows that Śiva’s grace (an aṃśa of Śaṅkara) can appear in any form—even as a child—to dispel grief and restore dharma, reminding devotees that the Lord remains the true inner ruler (Pati) beyond outward appearances.

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna Śiva—Śiva approachable through form and presence—who consoles and guides devotees; this supports Linga-worship as a tangible focus for devotion where the formless is honored through a sacred form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to steady the mind in sorrow by japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and remembrance of Śiva as the compassionate Lord who removes śoka (grief) and grants śānti (peace).