Shloka 2

Sunartaka-Naṭa Avatāra and Pārvatī’s Boon-Request (Śiva as the Testing Benefactor)

Devanagari script

यदा हि कालिका देवी पार्वती हिमवत्सुता । तेपे तपस्तुविमलं वनं गत्वा शिवाप्तये

Transliteration

yadā hi kālikā devī pārvatī himavatsutā | tepe tapastuvimalaṃ vanaṃ gatvā śivāptaye

Translation

Als die Göttin Kālikā—Pārvatī, die Tochter Himavāns—in den Wald ging, übte sie makellose Askese, um den Herrn Śiva zu erlangen.

Word by Word

• यदा: when
• यदा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (relative adverb: when)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: indeed)

• कालिका: Kālikā
• कालिका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• देवी: goddess
• देवी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद/अप्पोजिशन (apposition to कालिका)

• पार्वती: Pārvatī
• पार्वती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्वती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अप्पोजिशन

• हिमवत्सुता: daughter of Himavat
• हिमवत्सुता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिमवत्-सुता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (हिमवत् + सुता = हिमवतः सुता)

• तेपे: performed austerity
• तेपे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तु: and/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• विमलम्: pure
• विमलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying तपः)

• वनम्: forest
• वनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having gone)

• शिवाप्तये: for attaining Śiva
• शिवाप्तये: Sampradana/Prayojana (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव-आप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य आप्तिः)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse sets the archetype of Devī’s tapas for Śiva—an origin-pattern echoed in many sthala traditions where the Goddess performs austerities to manifest Śiva’s presence, but no specific Jyotirliṅga is named here.

Significance: Models the inner pilgrimage: withdrawal to solitude (vana) and tapas as the means to Śiva-sākṣātkāra (attainment/realization).

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Shiva
• Himavan
• Kalika

FAQs

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

It presents Pārvatī’s pure tapas as the model of disciplined devotion: the soul approaches Pati (Śiva) through inner purification, steadfast practice, and single-pointed intent to realize Śiva’s grace.

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

Her aim is “Śiva-attainment,” approached here through saguna-bhakti and yogic austerity—an attitude that in practice aligns with Linga-worship as a focused support for devotion, purity, and meditative absorption in Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse highlights tapas (austere sādhanā) and purity; a practical takeaway is regular japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with disciplined vows, simple living, and steady meditation directed to Śiva.