Shloka 42

गिरिजातपः-परीक्षा तथा सप्तर्षि-आह्वानम्

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

Devanagari script

नारदो मलिनात्मा हि सर्वदो ज्ज्वलदेहवान् । जानीमस्तं विशेषेण वयं तत्सहवासिनः

Transliteration

nārado malinātmā hi sarvado jjvaladehavān | jānīmastaṃ viśeṣeṇa vayaṃ tatsahavāsinaḥ

Translation

„Nārada ist wahrlich von unreiner Gesinnung, obgleich er alles gewährt und sein Leib strahlend ist. Wir—als seine nahen Gefährten—kennen ihn deutlich und ganz besonders.“

Word by Word

• नारदः: Narada
• नारदः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• मलिनात्मा: one with impure nature
• मलिनात्मा: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मलिन-आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (adjectival)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (indeed/for)

• सर्वदः: all-giving
• सर्वदः: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• उज्ज्वलदेहवान्: having a radiant body
• उज्ज्वलदेहवान्: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उज्ज्वल-देह-वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; वत्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive -vān)

• जानीमः: we know
• जानीमः: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), बहुवचन (Plural); परस्मैपद

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• विशेषेण: especially
• विशेषेण: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययीभाव (instrumental used adverbially); क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• तत्: that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/relational)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-विशेषण (qualifier in compound)

• सहवासिनः: co-residents/companions
• सहवासिनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सह-वासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘सह’ उपसर्गपूर्वक (co-dweller)

Speaker

Attendants/companions speaking within the narration of Suta Goswami (Rudra Saṃhitā, Pārvatīkhaṇḍa)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the Shaiva Siddhanta emphasis that outer brilliance or spiritual status can coexist with inner impurity (mala). True spiritual maturity requires inner cleansing and humility, not merely visible radiance or accomplishments.

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

Linga/Saguna Shiva worship in the Shiva Purana repeatedly stresses purification of intention (bhāva-śuddhi). The verse implies that without inner purity, even a revered devotee’s external greatness is incomplete—hence worship must be paired with self-purification and surrender to Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to pair daily Shiva-pūjā with inner purification: japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and wearing Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder to reduce ego and cleanse the mind.