Shloka 29

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

Devanagari script

मायारूपा स्मृता नारी विद्वद्भिर्वेदपारगैः । युवती तु विशेषेण विघ्नकर्त्री तपस्विनाम्

Transliteration

māyārūpā smṛtā nārī vidvadbhirvedapāragaiḥ | yuvatī tu viśeṣeṇa vighnakartrī tapasvinām

Translation

The learned—those who have mastered the Vedas—declare that “woman” is a manifestation of Māyā. A young woman, in particular, is said to become a cause of obstacles for ascetics engaged in austerity.

Word by Word

• मायारूपा: of illusory form
• मायारूपा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: माया + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—मायैव रूपं यस्याः / मायारूपा (illusory-formed)

• स्मृता: is regarded
• स्मृता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि—‘is considered/remembered’

• नारी: woman
• नारी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विद्वद्भिः: by the learned
• विद्वद्भिः: Karana/Agent-in-passive (करण/कर्तृ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्वस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• वेदपारगैः: by those who have mastered the Vedas
• वेदपारगैः: Karana/Agent-in-passive (करण/कर्तृ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद + पारग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; समासः—वेदस्य पारगः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• युवती: a young woman
• युवती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युवती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; विरोध/विशेषार्थक (but/indeed)

• विशेषेण: especially
• विशेषेण: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणार्थे

• विघ्नकर्त्री: creator of obstacles
• विघ्नकर्त्री: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विघ्न + कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—विघ्नस्य कर्त्री (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• तपस्विनाम्: of ascetics
• तपस्विनाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

FAQs

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

It warns that the yogin’s main struggle is not against a person but against Māyā—sense-attraction and mental projection—which can disturb tapas; liberation comes by steady turning of awareness toward Pati (Shiva) with discipline and detachment.

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

By emphasizing control of the senses, it supports Saguna Shiva worship—Linga-pūjā, mantra-japa, and dhyāna—as stabilizing practices that gather the mind away from distractions and toward Shiva as the purifying Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Strengthen daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), maintain brahmacarya and sattvic discipline during vrata/tapas, and use Shaiva supports like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of inner restraint and Shiva-focused awareness.