Shloka 56

शिवशिवयोर्जगत्पितृमातृत्व-प्रतिपादनं तथा मेनायाः विमोहः (Śiva–Śivā as Cosmic Father and Mother; Menā’s Delusion and the Sages’ Intervention)

Devanagari script

अहो प्रतिज्ञा दुर्लंघ्या साधूनामीशवर्तिनाम् । सर्वेषां जगतां मध्ये किमीशस्य पुनर्गिरे

Transliteration

aho pratijñā durlaṃghyā sādhūnāmīśavartinām | sarveṣāṃ jagatāṃ madhye kimīśasya punargire

Translation

Ach! Das Gelübde der Tugendhaften, die unter der Herrschaft des Herrn stehen, ist wahrlich schwer zu übertreten. In allen Welten—welche Macht könnte den Herrn veranlassen, nochmals anders zu sprechen?

Word by Word

• अहो: ah!
• अहो: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहो (अव्यय)
• Form: विस्मयादि-निपात (interjection)

• प्रतिज्ञा: a vow/promise
• प्रतिज्ञा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• दुर्लङ्घ्या: hard to violate
• दुर्लङ्घ्या: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्लङ्घ्य (प्रातिपदिक; √लङ्घ् धातु + यत्, with दु-)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Nominative, Singular; यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive): ‘hard to transgress’

• साधूनाम्: of the virtuous
• साधूनाम्: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• ईश-वर्तिनाम्: of those devoted to the Lord
• ईश-वर्तिनाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईश (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्तिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Genitive, Plural; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘ईशे वर्तिनः’ (those abiding in the Lord)

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Genitive, Plural

• जगताम्: of worlds/beings
• जगताम्: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• मध्ये: in the midst
• मध्ये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; Neuter, Locative, Singular

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular (interrogative)

• ईशस्य: of the Lord
• ईशस्य: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• पुनः: again / moreover
• पुनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• गिरे: O mountain (Himālaya)!
• गिरे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन; Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Purāṇic discourse to the sages, reflecting the Pārvatīkhaṇḍa narrative)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It praises the sanctity of satya and vrata: the righteous, aligned with Shiva’s will, do not break their pledged word, and Shiva’s own utterance is unfailing—pointing to dharma grounded in the Lord (Pati).

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

Linga-worship trains the devotee in steadiness and truth (niyama). By honoring Shiva as Īśa (the governing Lord), the devotee learns to live as īśa-vartin—letting Shiva’s ordinance guide conduct and vows.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt a simple Shiva-vrata: daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a truthful resolve (satya-saṅkalpa), keeping one chosen vow steadily—especially on Mondays or Mahāśivarātri.