Shloka 23

पार्वत्याः तपः-परीक्षा (Śiva Tests Pārvatī’s Austerity)

Devanagari script

क्षणं तदंतरे स्थित्वा ह्युत्पतंती दिवं द्विजः । पुनः पप्रच्छ सहसा विहसन्सुतनुं शिवः

Transliteration

kṣaṇaṃ tadaṃtare sthitvā hyutpataṃtī divaṃ dvijaḥ | punaḥ papraccha sahasā vihasansutanuṃ śivaḥ

Translation

Nachdem er dort einen Augenblick verweilt hatte, stieg der Zweimalgeborene (Brāhmaṇa) zum Himmel empor. Dann fragte Herr Śiva, lächelnd, plötzlich erneut jene schönleibige Jungfrau.

Word by Word

• क्षणम्: for a moment
• क्षणम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; Accusative Singular (time-accusative)

• तत्-अन्तरे: in the meantime/within that interval
• तत्-अन्तरे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; Locative Singular

• स्थित्वा: having remained
• स्थित्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having stayed’

• हि: indeed
• हि: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), emphasis/causal nuance

• उत्पतन्ती: leaping up/flying up
• उत्पतन्ती: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्-पत् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; agrees with (सा) understood

• दिवम्: to the sky/heaven
• दिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्/द्यौ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; Accusative Singular (goal)

• द्विजः: the brāhmaṇa (twice-born)
• द्विजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative Singular

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरावृत्ति-वाचक अव्यय

• पप्रच्छ: asked
• पप्रच्छ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-छ्/प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘asked’

• सहसा: suddenly/impetuously
• सहसा: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहसा (अव्यय)
• Form: रीतिवाचक-अव्यय (manner adverb)

• विहसन्: smiling/laughing
• विहसन्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-हस् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; agrees with शिवः

• सुतनुम्: the fair-bodied woman (Pārvatī)
• सुतनुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु-तनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative Singular

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative Singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the scene; dialogue action attributed to Lord Shiva)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Śiva’s compassionate, approachable Saguna presence: He engages the devotee through gentle, smiling dialogue, showing that divine grace often unfolds through lived encounters and tests that mature devotion and discernment.

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

Although the verse is narrative, it emphasizes Saguna Śiva—God with form and qualities—who interacts personally with seekers. Such leelas support devotional worship (bhakti) that later culminates in steadiness of mind for Linga-upāsanā and contemplation of Śiva as Pati (the Lord).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is smaraṇa (remembrance) with a calm, smiling mind—repeating the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while reflecting on Śiva’s gracious guidance in the devotee’s life.