Shloka 29

गिरिजाया तपोऽनुज्ञा

Permission for Girijā’s Austerities

Devanagari script

हित्वा मतान्यनेकानि वस्त्राणि विविधानि च । वल्कलानि धृतान्याशु मौंजीं बद्ध्वा तु शोभनाम्

Transliteration

hitvā matānyanekāni vastrāṇi vividhāni ca | valkalāni dhṛtānyāśu mauṃjīṃ baddhvā tu śobhanām

Translation

Viele Ansichten und mancherlei Gewänder ablegend, hüllte sie sich rasch in Rindenkleid; und um der schönen Zucht der Askese willen band sie sich einen feinen Gürtel aus Muñja-Gras um.

Word by Word

• हित्वा: having abandoned
• हित्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हा (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (त्वा/ल्यप्), ‘having abandoned’

• मतानि: opinions/views
• मतानि: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• अनेकानि: many
• अनेकानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; agrees with मतानि

• वस्त्राणि: garments
• वस्त्राणि: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• विविधानि: various
• विविधानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; agrees with वस्त्राणि

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चय)

• वल्कलानि: bark-garments
• वल्कलानि: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वल्कल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• धृतानि: worn/put on
• धृतानि: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/participial qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/PPP), Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; agrees with वल्कलानि

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• मौञ्जीम्: the muñja-girdle
• मौञ्जीम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मौञ्जी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• बद्ध्वा: having tied
• बद्ध्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (त्वा), ‘having tied’

• तु: then/indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), contrast/emphasis

• शोभनाम्: beautiful
• शोभनाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोभन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; agrees with मौञ्जीम्

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse depicts Pārvatī’s renunciant preparation (bark-cloth, muñja-girdle) as part of her tapas to attain Śiva; it is set in the Himālaya/Gaṅgāvataraṇa locale rather than a Jyotirliṅga-kṣetra origin.

Significance: Models vairāgya and niyama as prerequisites for Śiva’s grace (anugraha) and for loosening pāśa (bondage) through disciplined tapas.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

It highlights vairāgya (dispassion) and niyama (disciplined restraint): abandoning worldly identifications and adopting austere simplicity as preparation for Shiva-realization and steadfast tapas.

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

Parvatī’s outer renunciation mirrors inner purification—making the devotee fit for Saguna Shiva worship (with form, vow, and discipline) that matures into deeper contemplation of Shiva beyond mere externals.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse suggests vrata-like austerity and simplification of life; as a practical takeaway, one may adopt a regulated sādhana during Shiva worship—daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), along with disciplined conduct and restraint.