Shloka 49

गिरिजाया तपोऽनुज्ञा

Permission for Girijā’s Austerities

Devanagari script

आहारे त्यक्तपर्णाभूद्यस्माद्धिमवतः सुतः । तेन देवैरपर्णेति कथिता नामतः शिवा

Transliteration

āhāre tyaktaparṇābhūdyasmāddhimavataḥ sutaḥ | tena devairaparṇeti kathitā nāmataḥ śivā

Translation

Because Himavān’s daughter renounced even leaves as food during her austerity, the gods therefore addressed Śivā (Pārvatī) by the name “Aparṇā” (she who is without leaves).

Word by Word

• āhāre: in food / regarding food
• āhāre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचनम्

• tyakta-parṇā: she who had abandoned leaves (as food)
• tyakta-parṇā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tyakta (कृदन्त; √tyaj धातु) + parṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समासः: त्यक्तानि पर्णानि यस्याः सा; स्त्रीलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (sutaḥ इत्यस्य माता/शिवा इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• abhūt: became
• abhūt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; √भू = to become

• yasmāt: because of which / from which
• yasmāt: Apādāna (अपादानम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचनम्

• himavataḥ: of Himavat
• himavataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: himavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचनम्

• sutaḥ: son
• sutaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• tena: therefore / by that
• tena: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental/करण), एकवचनम्

• devaiḥ: by the gods
• devaiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• aparṇā: Aparṇā
• aparṇā: Pratipādya/saṃjñā (संज्ञा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aparṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (नाम)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: इति-निपातः (quotative)

• kathitā: was called
• kathitā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kathita (कृदन्त; √kath धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त-भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle): स्त्रीलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्मणि प्रयोगः—'was called'

• nāmataḥ: by name
• nāmataḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāmatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): नामतः = by name

• śivā: Śivā (Pārvatī)
• śivā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śivā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse explains the epithet Aparṇā arising from Pārvatī’s extreme tapas (renouncing even leaves as food) undertaken to attain Śiva.

Significance: Models vairāgya and tapas as preparatory disciplines for Śiva’s grace (anugraha) and for loosening pāśa (bondage).

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Shiva
• Himavan
• Devas

FAQs

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

It highlights Pārvatī’s intense tapas and vairāgya—renouncing even minimal sustenance—showing that steadfast devotion and self-discipline purify the soul and make it fit for union with Pati (Śiva), the supreme Lord.

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

Pārvatī’s tapas is directed toward attaining Śiva in a personal (saguṇa) relationship, which mirrors how devotees approach Śiva through Linga-worship and disciplined bhakti—transforming desire into sacred longing for the Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is disciplined vrata and tapas: regulated diet/fasting with mantra-japa (especially the Panchākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and focused meditation on Śiva, performed with humility rather than display.