Shloka 1

पार्वतीबाल्यलीलावर्णनम् — Description of Pārvatī’s Childhood/Birth Festivities

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । ततो मेना पुरस्सा वै सुता भूत्वा महाद्युतिः । चकार रोदनं तत्र लौकिकीं गतिमाश्रिता

Transliteration

brahmovāca | tato menā purassā vai sutā bhūtvā mahādyutiḥ | cakāra rodanaṃ tatra laukikīṃ gatimāśritā

Translation

Brahmā sprach: Dann, vor Menā, wurde jene strahlende Tochter (Pārvatī) gleichsam wieder zu einem Kind; indem sie die gewöhnliche menschliche Weise annahm, begann sie dort zu weinen.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, काल/क्रमवाचक (temporal/sequential adverb)

• मेना: Menā
• मेना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• पुरः: in front
• पुरः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (उपसर्गसदृश/क्रियाविशेषण), स्थानवाचक (locative adverb)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular), सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (particle; emphasis/indeed)

• सुता: daughter
• सुता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal), पूर्वकाल (prior action)

• महाद्युतिः: of great splendor
• महाद्युतिः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + द्युति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective)

• चकार: did/made
• चकार: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• रोदनम्: crying/weeping
• रोदनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक (locative adverb)

• लौकिकीम्: worldly/ordinary
• लौकिकीम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लौकिकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• गतिम्: state/condition/way
• गतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• आश्रिता: having resorted to/assumed
• आश्रिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + श्रि (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); कर्तरि प्रयोगे विशेषणवत्

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: tirodhana

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Shows the divine adopting laukika (ordinary) behavior to participate in human relational bonds—an instructive concealment that makes the divine approachable to bound souls (paśu).

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Mena
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It shows the divine (Pārvatī) willingly taking on laukika—ordinary human emotion—so her leela unfolds in a relatable way, guiding devotees toward bhakti and steadfastness on the path to union with Śiva (Pati).

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

By portraying Pārvatī’s human-like conduct, the text emphasizes Saguna devotion: devotees approach Śiva through accessible forms, emotions, and narratives that mature into deeper realization beyond form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is compassionate bhakti with disciplined steadiness—support it with daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and simple Śiva-pūjā, keeping the mind anchored even amid strong emotion.