Shloka 47

Jaṭilāvatāra-Parīkṣā: Pārvatyāḥ Tapasāṃ Parīkṣaṇam

The Jaṭilā Episode and the Testing of Pārvatī’s Austerity

Devanagari script

प्रोवाच गिरिजा तावत्स्वसखीं विजयान्द्रुतम् । शिवासक्तमनोवृत्तिः शिवनिन्दापराङ्मुखी

Transliteration

provāca girijā tāvatsvasakhīṃ vijayāndrutam | śivāsaktamanovṛttiḥ śivanindāparāṅmukhī

Translation

ثم إنَّ جيريجا (بارفَتي) خاطبت سريعًا صديقتها فيجَيا—وقلبها معلّقٌ كلّه بشِيفا، منصرفةٌ عن كل انتقاصٍ لشِيفا.

Word by Word

• provāca: said
• provāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; with prefix प्र-: 'said'

• girijā: Girijā (Pārvatī)
• girijā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: girijā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; subject

• tāvat: then, at that time
• tāvat: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (अव्यय) meaning 'then/so long/at that time'

• sva-sakhīm: her own friend
• sva-sakhīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + sakhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; कर्मधारयः = 'own friend'

• vijayān: Vijayā
• vijayān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vijayā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; proper name (ending -ām > -ān by sandhi before drutam)

• drutam: quickly
• drutam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: druta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषण-रूपेण द्वितीया) used as indeclinable: 'quickly'

• śiva-āsakta-mano-vṛttiḥ: having mind attached to Śiva
• śiva-āsakta-mano-vṛttiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + āsakta (कृदन्त; √sañj/āsaj) + manas (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛtti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः: 'whose mental disposition is attached to Śiva' (qualifying girijā)

• śiva-nindā-parāṅmukhī: averse to blaming Śiva
• śiva-nindā-parāṅmukhī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + nindā (प्रातिपदिक) + parāṅmukhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; तत्पुरुषः: 'turned away from Śiva-blame'

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the episode; verse describes Parvati speaking)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Śiva-nindā-tyāga (turning away from disparagement) is framed as a basic mark of Śiva-bhakti; cultivating such śraddhā is treated as spiritually protective and conducive to Śiva’s grace.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Vijaya

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva ethic that true devotion is marked by single-pointed absorption in Pati (Śiva) and a firm refusal to entertain Shiva-nindā (disparagement), which is treated as spiritually obstructive.

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

The verse reflects saguna-bhakti in practice: keeping the mind attached to Śiva and protecting reverence for His sacred forms (including the Liṅga) by avoiding speech or company that belittles Him.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain śiva-smaraṇa (remembrance of Śiva) through japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and cultivate disciplined speech: avoid Shiva-nindā and instead engage in stotra, nāma-japa, and satsanga.