Shloka 4

गिरिजाया तपोऽनुज्ञा

Permission for Girijā’s Austerities

Devanagari script

सख्यावूचतुः । हिमवञ्च्छ्रूयतां पुत्री वचनं कथ्यतेऽधुना । सा स्वयं चैव देहस्य रूपस्यापि तथा पुनः

Transliteration

sakhyāvūcatuḥ | himavañcchrūyatāṃ putrī vacanaṃ kathyate'dhunā | sā svayaṃ caiva dehasya rūpasyāpi tathā punaḥ

Translation

The companions said: “O Himavān, please listen. Now we shall convey the words of your daughter—how she herself has spoken again and again about her body and her very form.”

Word by Word

• सख्यौ: the two female friends
• सख्यौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सखी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन (Dual)

• ऊचतुः: said
• ऊचतुः: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), द्विवचन (Dual), परस्मैपद

• हिमवत्: O Himavat
• हिमवत्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिमवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (8th/Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• श्रूयताम्: let (it) be heard
• श्रूयताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense): ‘let it be heard’

• पुत्रि: O daughter
• पुत्रि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (8th/Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• वचनम्: speech; words
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• कथ्यते: is being spoken/told
• कथ्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive): ‘is being told’

• अधुना: now
• अधुना: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण/Time adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधुना (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• स्वयम्: herself; personally
• स्वयम्: Prayojaka-bhāva (विशेषणार्थ/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/अव्यय (emphatic indeclinable)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed; just
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (particle of emphasis)

• देहस्य: of the body
• देहस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• रूपस्य: of the form/beauty
• रूपस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• अपि: also; even
• अपि: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/सम्भावना-बोधक-अव्यय (particle: also/even)

• तथा: thus; likewise
• तथा: Prakāra-adhikaraṇa (प्रकार-अधिकरण/Manner adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: thus/so)

• पुनः: again; further
• पुनः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरावृत्ति/क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: again/further)

Speaker

Pārvatī’s companions (sakhīs), addressing Himavān

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Parvati

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Himavan

FAQs

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

It frames Pārvatī’s inner resolve: even the body and outward form are treated as secondary to her spiritual purpose—attaining union with Pati (Lord Śiva) through steadfast devotion and discipline.

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

By downplaying bodily identity and beauty, the narrative points the devotee toward worship of Śiva as the supreme Lord (Pati) beyond mere appearance, approached through Saguna devotion (personal Lord) that matures into deeper realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is steadiness in sādhana—japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined devotion—placing spiritual commitment above attachment to the body and its adornment.