Shloka 26

काली-परिचयः / Himagiri Presents Kālī (Pārvatī) to Śiva

Devanagari script

हिमाचल उवाच । कस्मान्मयानया सार्द्धं नागंतव्यं तदुच्यताम् । सेवने किमयोग्येयं नाहं वेद्म्यत्र कारणम्

Transliteration

himācala uvāca | kasmānmayānayā sārddhaṃ nāgaṃtavyaṃ taducyatām | sevane kimayogyeyaṃ nāhaṃ vedmyatra kāraṇam

Translation

Himācala said: “Tell me why I should not go there together with her. Am I in some way unfit for this act of service? I do not understand the reason for it.”

Word by Word

• हिमाचलः: Himācala (the हिमालय)
• हिमाचलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिमाचल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—हिमस्य अचलः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• कस्मात्: from what reason? why?
• कस्मात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक सर्वनाम

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• अनया: with this (woman)
• अनया: Sahartha/Instrumental (सह/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• सार्धम्: together with
• सार्धम्: Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सार्धम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक (meaning ‘together with’)

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation particle)

• आगन्तव्यम्: should be brought/should come (to be accompanied)
• आगन्तव्यम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्यय (तव्यत्) कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भावे/कर्तरि प्रयोगः—‘to be come/should come’

• तत्: that (matter)
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उच्यताम्: let it be stated
• उच्यताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘let it be said’

• सेवने: in service/attendance
• सेवने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक

• अयोग्या: unfit
• अयोग्या: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अयोग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• इयम्: this (she)
• इयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वेद्मि: know
• वेद्मि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अत्र: here/in this matter
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb)

• कारणम्: reason/cause
• कारणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Himācala (Himavān), father of Pārvatī

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

It highlights humility and the desire to understand dharma in devotion—Himācala seeks the true reason (kāraṇa) behind a restriction, showing that service (sevā) must be done according to spiritual propriety, not merely emotion.

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

In Shaiva practice, approaching Saguna Shiva’s worship (including Liṅga-sevā) follows maryādā—rules of eligibility, role, and context. The verse reflects inquiry into that eligibility rather than assuming entitlement.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The immediate takeaway is disciplined sevā with right understanding; practically, one may adopt respectful preparatory worship—such as japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and purity of intention—before participating in Shiva-related rites.