Shloka 23

Anasūyā–Atri Tapas-Varṇana

Description of Anasūyā and Atri’s Austerities

Devanagari script

विशिष्यते स्म विप्रेन्द्रा मनोवाक्कायसंस्कृतम । तावत्कालं तु सा देवी परिचर्यां चकार ह

Transliteration

viśiṣyate sma viprendrā manovākkāyasaṃskṛtama | tāvatkālaṃ tu sā devī paricaryāṃ cakāra ha

Translation

O foremost of Brahmins, her refined purity of mind, speech, and body became ever more excellent. During that entire period, that Divine Goddess continued her devoted service and attendance.

Word by Word

• विशिष्यते: excelled/was distinguished
• विशिष्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि√शिष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• स्म: indeed/then (narrative particle)
• स्म: Kala-bodhaka (कालबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्म (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; भूतार्थे/अनुस्मरणे (particle often marking past narrative)

• विप्रेन्द्राः: O best of Brahmins
• विप्रेन्द्राः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्रेन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे अपि (O best of Brahmins)

• मनः-वाक्-काय-संस्कृतम्: purified in mind, speech, and body
• मनः-वाक्-काय-संस्कृतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक) + वाक् (प्रातिपदिक) + काय (प्रातिपदिक) + संस्कृत (कृदन्त, सम्√कृ धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (manas-vāk-kāya = mind, speech, body) + तत्पुरुषभावेन संस्कृतम् (purified/refined)

• तावत्-कालम्: for that duration
• तावत्-कालम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत् (प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (for that long/time)

• तु: but/then
• तु: Virodha (विरोध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; विशेषार्थ/विरोधार्थ

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृ

• देवी: the goddess/lady
• देवी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृ (apposition to सा)

• परिचर्याम्: service, attendance
• परिचर्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिचर्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• चकार: did/performed
• चकार: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ह: indeed
• ह: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; कथन-प्रत्यय/वृत्तान्तसूचक (emphatic narrative particle)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames śiva-paricaryā as a purifying sādhana (mala-kṣaya) of mind, speech, and body—mirroring the pilgrim’s threefold discipline (trikaraṇa-śuddhi) in a kṣetra.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that true spiritual progress in Shaiva dharma is shown by the refinement of mind, speech, and body, expressed through steady, humble service (paricaryā) offered to the Divine.

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

Service and disciplined conduct are presented as valid Saguna-Shiva worship: honoring Shiva through reverent attendance, ritual-minded purity, and devotional duty, which prepares the aspirant for deeper realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice tri-fold purity—mental restraint, truthful and mantra-filled speech (e.g., japa of Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and bodily discipline—along with regular seva such as temple service, offering water/flowers, and maintaining cleanliness and reverence.