Shloka 51

गिरिजाया तपोऽनुज्ञा

Permission for Girijā’s Austerities

Devanagari script

चीरवल्कलसंवीता जटासंघातधारिणी । शिवचिंतनसंसक्ता जिगाय तपसा मुनीम्

Transliteration

cīravalkalasaṃvītā jaṭāsaṃghātadhāriṇī | śivaciṃtanasaṃsaktā jigāya tapasā munīm

Translation

তিনি চীর-वल্কল পরিধান করে, জটার গুচ্ছ ধারণ করে, শিবচিন্তনে আসক্ত হয়ে তপস্যার শক্তিতে মুনি-নারীকেও অতিক্রম করলেন।

Word by Word

• cīra-valkala-saṃvītā: clad in bark-garments
• cīra-valkala-saṃvītā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cīra (प्रातिपदिक) + valkala (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃvīta (कृदन्त; √vī/√ve धातु, सम्-उपसर्ग)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-कृदन्त ‘संवीता’ = clad; तत्पुरुष-समास (चीरवल्कलेन संवीता)

• jaṭā-saṃghāta-dhāriṇī: wearing a mass of matted locks
• jaṭā-saṃghāta-dhāriṇī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jaṭā (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃghāta (प्रातिपदिक) + dhāriṇī (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √dhṛ धातु, णिनि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘धारिणी’ = bearer; तत्पुरुष-समास (जटासंघातं धारयति)

• śiva-ciṃtana-saṃsaktā: absorbed in contemplation of Śiva
• śiva-ciṃtana-saṃsaktā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + ciṃtana (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃsakta (कृदन्त; सम्-√sañj/√saj धातु, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-कृदन्त ‘संसक्ता’ = attached/absorbed; तत्पुरुष-समास (शिवचिन्तने संसक्ता)

• jigāya: conquered, surpassed
• jigāya: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ji (जि धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• tapasā: by austerity
• tapasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• munīm: the (female) sage / ascetic woman
• munīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘मुनि’ शब्दः अत्र स्त्रीरूपे (munī)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; emphasizes ascetic marks and Śiva-cintana as the inner sādhana that surpasses ordinary asceticism.

Significance: Teaches that true tapas is inseparable from Śiva-cintana (contemplation), not merely external hardship.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It presents Pārvatī as the ideal sādhikā: outer renunciation (simple dress, matted hair) supports inner renunciation, and sustained Śiva-chintana purifies the soul so thoroughly that her tapas becomes unsurpassable—showing that grace-oriented devotion to Pati (Śiva) crowns ascetic discipline.

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

Śiva-chintana here implies steady meditation on Saguna Śiva—His auspicious form and qualities—which in Purāṇic practice is commonly supported by Linga-upāsanā, japa, and pūjā; the verse emphasizes that focused remembrance of Śiva is the inner core of such worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

One-pointed meditation and japa on Śiva—especially Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—combined with vrata/tapas (simplicity, restraint, and disciplined living) is the practical takeaway.