Shloka 32

Devanagari script

पित्रा विनापि सा काली सखीभ्यां सह नित्यशः । जगाम शंकराभ्याशं सेवायै भक्तितत्परा

Transliteration

pitrā vināpi sā kālī sakhībhyāṃ saha nityaśaḥ | jagāma śaṃkarābhyāśaṃ sevāyai bhaktitatparā

Translation

حتى من غير صحبة أبيها، كانت تلك كالي—دائماً مع صديقتيها—تذهب على الدوام إلى قرب شنكرة، منصرفةً إلى خدمته بتعبّدٍ خالص.

Word by Word

• पित्रा: with (her) father
• पित्रा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन (Instrumental singular)

• विना: without
• विना: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vinā (अव्यय)
• Form: उपपद-अव्यय (preposition-like indeclinable: without); तृतीया-सहचर (governs instrumental)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: even/also)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (Nominative singular)

• काली: Kālī
• काली: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kālī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Nominative singular; proper name)

• सखीभ्याम्: with two female friends
• सखीभ्याम्: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sakhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), द्विवचन (Instrumental dual)

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-सम्बन्धक-अव्यय (with; accompaniment)

• नित्यशः: always
• नित्यशः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nityaśas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: always/continually)

• जगाम: went
• जगाम: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् धातु (गति)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• शंकर-अभ्याशम्: to the vicinity of Śaṅkara
• शंकर-अभ्याशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक) + abhyāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (शंकरस्य अभ्याशः = समीपम्); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• सेवायै: for service
• सेवायै: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sevā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन (Dative singular; purpose)

• भक्ति-तत्परा: intent on devotion
• भक्ति-तत्परा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक) + tatpara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (भक्तौ तत्परा = devoted to devotion); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (agreeing with सा/काली)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It highlights steadfast bhakti expressed as seva—approaching Śaṅkara regularly with single-minded devotion—showing that sincere devotion transcends social or familial dependence and becomes a direct spiritual orientation toward Pati (Lord Shiva).

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

Going “near Śaṅkara” reflects Saguna-upāsanā—devotion to Shiva’s accessible form and presence. In practice, this aligns with approaching the Śiva-liṅga daily with reverence, treating worship as loving attendance (seva) rather than mere ritual.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A takeaway is nitya-sevā: daily Shiva worship with bhakti—offering water and bilva leaves to the liṅga while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating consistent, service-minded remembrance.