Shloka 16

गिरिजाया तपोऽनुज्ञा

Permission for Girijā’s Austerities

Devanagari script

ततस्सा पार्वती प्राह स्वयमेवाथ मातरम् । करौ बद्ध्वा विनीतात्मा स्मृत्वा शिवपदांबुजम्

Transliteration

tatassā pārvatī prāha svayamevātha mātaram | karau baddhvā vinītātmā smṛtvā śivapadāṃbujam

Translation

Daraufhin sprach Pārvatī selbst zu ihrer Mutter. Mit gefalteten Händen, demütigem und gezügeltem Geist, redete sie, nachdem sie der Lotosfüße des Herrn Śiva gedacht hatte.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: काल-अव्यय (Temporal adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय/तद्-तसिल्)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त ‘then’

• सा: she
• सा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• पार्वती: Pārvatī
• पार्वती: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्वती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• प्राह: said
• प्राह: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अह्/ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• स्वयम्: herself
• स्वयम्: क्रिया-विशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मार्थक (reflexive adverb) ‘herself’

• एव: indeed
• एव: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तर-निपात (sequencing particle)

• मातरम्: mother
• मातरम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — Accusative singular

• करौ: hands
• करौ: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), द्विवचन — Accusative dual

• बद्ध्वा: having bound
• बद्ध्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (Absolutive/Gerund); ‘having bound’

• विनीतात्मा: humble-minded
• विनीतात्मा: कर्ता-विशेषण (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विनीत + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः ‘whose self is humble/disciplined’ (विनीतः आत्मा यस्याः/यस्य) — here agreeing with implied agent ‘she’ though form is masculine nominative singular (common in bahuvrīhi usage)

• स्मृत्वा: having remembered
• स्मृत्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (Absolutive/Gerund); ‘having remembered’

• शिवपदाम्बुजम्: Śiva’s lotus-feet
• शिवपदाम्बुजम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + पद + अम्बुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शिवस्य पदाम्बुजम् = ‘lotus-feet of Śiva’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It highlights śaraṇāgati (surrender): before acting or speaking, Pārvatī first remembers Śiva’s lotus-feet, showing that devotion and inner humility purify intention and align the soul (paśu) toward the Lord (Pati).

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

Remembering Śiva’s lotus-feet reflects saguna-upāsanā—personal devotion to Śiva with attributes. In Linga-worship, this same attitude appears as reverent namaskāra and mental smaraṇa before offering water, bilva, or mantra.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice smaraṇa and namaskāra: fold the hands, calm the mind, and mentally dwell on Śiva’s feet; optionally accompany it with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” before beginning any prayer or important speech.