Shloka 48

गिरिजाया तपोऽनुज्ञा

Permission for Girijā’s Austerities

Devanagari script

ततः पर्णान्यपि शिवा निरस्य हिमवत्सुता । निराहाराभवद्देवी तपश्चरणसंरता

Transliteration

tataḥ parṇānyapi śivā nirasya himavatsutā | nirāhārābhavaddevī tapaścaraṇasaṃratā

Translation

Dann entsagte Śivā, die Tochter Himavāns, sogar den Blättern als Nahrung. Die Göttin wurde völlig fastend, standhaft in die Ausübung des Tapas versenkt, entschlossen, den Herrn Śiva zu erlangen.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, adverb; ‘then/thereafter’

• पर्णानि: leaves
• पर्णानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; object

• अपि: even, also
• अपि: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, particle; ‘also/even’

• शिवा: Śivā (Pārvatī)
• शिवा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; subject

• निरस्य: having rejected
• निरस्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर् + अस् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त अव्ययकृदन्त; ‘having rejected/abandoned’

• हिमवत्-सुता: daughter of Himavat
• हिमवत्-सुता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिमवत् (प्रातिपदिक) + सुता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; apposition to subject

• निराहारा: without food
• निराहारा: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निराहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; predicate adjective

• अभवत्: became
• अभवत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (भूतकाल/Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘became’

• देवी: the goddess
• देवी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; subject (re-stated)

• तपः-चरण-संरता: devoted to practicing austerity
• तपः-चरण-संरता: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक) + चरण (प्रातिपदिक) + संरत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘engaged in the practice of austerity’

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Shiva
• Himavan

FAQs

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

It presents Pārvatī’s intensifying tapas—renouncing even minimal sustenance—as single-pointed devotion (bhakti united with discipline) that purifies the soul (paśu) and makes it fit for Śiva’s grace (pati-anugraha), the true cause of fulfillment.

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

Her austerity is not mere self-denial but a focused vow to realize and serve Lord Śiva in a personal, approachable form (saguṇa). In the Purāṇic frame, such inner purification naturally culminates in outward worship—often expressed through liṅga-upāsanā, mantra, and regulated vrata.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse supports vrata-style fasting (upavāsa) combined with steady tapas: simple living, restraint of the senses, and sustained japa—classically the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as a devotional discipline, especially aligned with Mahāśivarātri observances.