Shiva Purana — Satarudra Samhita, Shloka 35

Vaiśyanātha-avatāra-kathā

The Account of Śiva’s Manifestation as Vaiśyanātha

Devanagari script

स्तम्भेन सह निर्दग्धं तल्लिंगं शकलीकृतम् । दृष्ट्वा वेश्या स वैश्यश्च दुरंतं दुःखमापतुः

Transliteration

stambhena saha nirdagdhaṃ talliṃgaṃ śakalīkṛtam | dṛṣṭvā veśyā sa vaiśyaśca duraṃtaṃ duḥkhamāpatuḥ

Translation

当那圣林伽连同其柱被焚烧并碎裂成片时，见此情景，那妓女与那位商人都陷入难以承受的悲痛之中。

Word by Word

• स्तम्भेन: with the pillar
• स्तम्भेन: करण (Karaṇa/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: सहकारक (association)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-योगे अव्यय (postposition ‘with’)

• निर्दग्धम्: burnt
• निर्दग्धम्: विशेषण (to लिङ्गम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर् + दह् (धातु) → निर्दग्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (burnt)

• तत्-लिङ्गम्: that liṅga/sign
• तत्-लिङ्गम्: कर्म (object of ‘seeing’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘तस्य लिङ्गम्’

• शकली-कृतम्: broken into pieces
• शकली-कृतम्: विशेषण (to लिङ्गम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शकली (प्रातिपदिक) + कृ (धातु) → कृत (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘शकलानि कृतम्’ (made into pieces)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: पूर्वकाल (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), धातु: दृश्

• वेश्या: the courtesan
• वेश्या: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेश्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वैश्यः: the merchant (vaiśya)
• वैश्यः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• दुरन्तम्: unbearable/terrible
• दुरन्तम्: विशेषण (to दुःखम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुरन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दुःखम्: sorrow
• दुःखम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आपतुः: they two fell into/experienced
• आपतुः: क्रिया (मुख्य क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + पद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन; परस्मैपद; धातु: पद् ‘to fall/come upon’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadashiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Linga

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the sanctity of the Śiva-liṅga as a living focus of devotion (saguṇa-Śiva for worship) and shows how the shock of its destruction triggers intense remorse and suffering—pointing to the karmic weight of one’s attitude toward sacred symbols of Pati (Śiva).

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

The liṅga functions as the accessible embodiment of Śiva for devotees; its burning and fragmentation dramatize that sacred presence being violated. In Shaiva Siddhānta, reverence to such forms supports purification (mala-kṣaya), while contempt or harm intensifies bondage (pāśa) through negative karma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to restore reverence through liṅga-pūjā with pañcākṣarī japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), offering water and bilva leaves, and adopting purificatory observances such as vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of humility and devotion.