Shloka 36

गिरिजातपः-परीक्षा तथा सप्तर्षि-आह्वानम्

Girijā’s Austerity-Test and the Summoning of the Seven Sages

Devanagari script

तेऽपि तत्र गताः पुत्रास्तपोर्थं पितुराज्ञया । नारदोऽपि ययौ तत्र पुनस्तत्स्वोपदेशकृत्

Transliteration

te'pi tatra gatāḥ putrāstaporthaṃ piturājñayā | nārado'pi yayau tatra punastatsvopadeśakṛt

Translation

Auch jene Söhne gingen dorthin, um gemäß dem Befehl ihres Vaters Tapas (Askese) zu üben. Nārada ging ebenfalls erneut dorthin und wurde abermals ihr Spender heiliger Unterweisung.

Word by Word

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-भाव (also/even)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक

• गताः: went
• गताः: Kriya (क्रिया; participial predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्तरि-प्रयोग (as predicate)

• पुत्राः: sons
• पुत्राः: Karta (कर्ता; apposition to 'ते')
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• तपः-अर्थम्: for austerity
• तपः-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-भाव: 'तपसः अर्थम्' (for the sake of austerity); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थक

• पितुः-आज्ञया: by (their) father's command
• पितुः-आज्ञया: Hetu/Nimitta (हेतु/Instrumental cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'पितुः आज्ञया' (by the father's command); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• नारदः: Nārada
• नारदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (also)

• ययौ: went
• ययौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्ति (again)

• तत्-स्व-उपदेश-कृत्: one who again gave that same instruction
• तत्-स्व-उपदेश-कृत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + उपदेश (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत् (कृ धातु, कृत्-प्रत्यय; agent noun)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: 'तत् स्वोपदेशं करोति' / 'तत्-स्व-उपदेशस्य कर्ता'; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of 'नारदः')

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

The verse highlights disciplined tapas done in obedience to rightful guidance, and the necessity of a realized teacher (Nārada) whose upadeśa directs austerity toward Shiva-realization rather than mere self-effort.

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

Tapas and guru-instruction are presented as preparatory means that mature into focused devotion—typically expressed in the Purana through Saguna Shiva worship (including Linga-upāsanā), where disciplined practice becomes steady bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to undertake regulated tapas under proper upadeśa—such as daily japa of Shiva-mantra (especially the Panchākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with purity, restraint, and consistency.