Shloka 46

Dāruvana-parīkṣā: Śaṅkara’s Test and the Linga’s Ritual-Theological Grounding

Devanagari script

पार्वतीं च विना नान्या लिंगं धारयितुं क्षमा । तया धृतं च मल्लिंगं द्रुतं शान्तिं गमिष्यति

Transliteration

pārvatīṃ ca vinā nānyā liṃgaṃ dhārayituṃ kṣamā | tayā dhṛtaṃ ca malliṃgaṃ drutaṃ śāntiṃ gamiṣyati

Translation

Apart from Pārvatī, no other is capable of bearing the Liṅga. And when my Liṅga is borne by her, it will swiftly attain pacification and peace.

Word by Word

• पार्वतीम्: Pārvatī
• पार्वतीम्: Karma (कर्म; vinā with acc.)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्वती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (conjunction: and)

• विना: without
• विना: Apādāna (अपादान; separation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, वियोगार्थक उपपद (preposition-like: without; governs द्वितीया)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negative particle)

• अन्या: another (woman)
• अन्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• लिङ्गम्: liṅga
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• धारयितुम्: to hold/bear
• धारयितुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन; purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (Infinitive), क्रियार्थक (purpose: to bear/hold)

• क्षमा: capable
• क्षमा: Karta (कर्ता; predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); predicate adjective of अन्या

• तया: by her
• तया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• धृतम्: borne/held
• धृतम्: Kriyā (क्रियासाधन/participial predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Singular); predicate of मल्लिङ्गम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (and)

• मत्-लिङ्गम्: my liṅga
• मत्-लिङ्गम्: Karta (कर्ता; subject of गमिष्यति)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• द्रुतम्: quickly
• द्रुतम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्रुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: quickly)

• शान्तिम्: peace
• शान्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• गमिष्यति: will attain/go to
• गमिष्यति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Doctrinal clarification: only Pārvatī (Śakti) can ‘bear’/support the liṅga; when supported by her, the liṅga attains śānti—i.e., the cosmic equilibrium is restored through Śiva-Śakti integration.

Significance: Affirms that worship of Śiva is ritually and metaphysically complete only with Śakti as ādhāra; promotes reverence to the Devī alongside liṅga worship for śānti.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Linga

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes the inseparability of Shiva (Pati) and Shakti (Parvati) in manifest worship: the Liṅga—Shiva’s sacred presence in form—becomes auspiciously stabilized and pacified through Parvati, indicating that grace and peace arise when consciousness and divine power are united.

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

It frames Liṅga worship as Saguna devotion supported by Shakti: Parvati’s capacity to ‘bear’ the Liṅga signifies the proper consecration and sustaining of Shiva’s manifest symbol, guiding devotees to approach the Liṅga with reverence, purity, and the understanding of Shiva-Shakti unity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to perform Shiva Liṅga pūjā with the bhāva of honoring both Shiva and Parvati—reciting the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), offering water/milk, and meditating on inner śānti (pacification of the mind) as the fruit of devoted worship.