Shiva Purana — Satarudra Samhita, Shloka 17

Yatinātha-līlā: Śiva’s Test of the Bhilla Devotees at Arbuda Mountain

Devanagari script

रात्रौ तम्पशवः क्रूरा हिंसकाः समपीडयन् । तेनापि च यथाशक्ति कृतो यत्नो महांस्तदा

Transliteration

rātrau tampaśavaḥ krūrā hiṃsakāḥ samapīḍayan | tenāpi ca yathāśakti kṛto yatno mahāṃstadā

Translation

夜间，那些凶残暴烈的生灵极力折磨他；即便如此，他仍尽其所能，奋力作出巨大的努力。

Word by Word

• रात्रौ: at night
• रात्रौ: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative of time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; Locative singular used adverbially (time)

• तम्: him
• तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; pronoun

• पशवः: beasts/animals
• पशवः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• क्रूराः: cruel
• क्रूराः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; adjective qualifying ‘पशवः’

• हिंसकाः: violent, harmful
• हिंसकाः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हिंसक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; adjective qualifying ‘पशवः’

• समपीडयन्: tormented, oppressed
• समपीडयन्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+पीड् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/लङ्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; ‘they tormented/pressed’

• तेन: by him/thereby
• तेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; instrumental

• अपि: also, even
• अपि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); concessive/emphatic ‘also/even’

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• यथा-शक्ति: as much as possible
• यथा-शक्ति: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; adverbial phrase meaning ‘according to ability’

• कृतः: done, made
• कृतः: क्रिया-विशेषण/विधेय (Predicative participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृत-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle/कृदन्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; agrees with ‘यत्नः’

• यत्नः: effort
• यत्नः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महान्: great
• महान्: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; adjective qualifying ‘यत्नः’

• तदा: then
• तदा: कालाधिकरण (Temporal adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Nocturnal violence as a narrative emblem of tamas and karmic pressure (pāśa) tightening on the embodied being.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights the devotee’s steadfastness amid fear and suffering—an image of the pashu (bound soul) striving against pasha (bondage) until Pati (Shiva) grants protection and grace.

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

In Purana narrative style, such torment underscores why devotees take refuge in Saguna Shiva—approaching the Linga as a tangible sanctuary of Shiva’s protective presence when worldly forces become hostile.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is to persist in japa—especially the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—with steady resolve during adversity, seeking Shiva’s guardianship.