Shloka 54

गिरिजाया तपोऽनुज्ञा

Permission for Girijā’s Austerities

Devanagari script

नियमस्थां महादेव किं मां जानासि नाधुना । येनाहं सुचिरं तेन नानुयाता तवोरता

Transliteration

niyamasthāṃ mahādeva kiṃ māṃ jānāsi nādhunā | yenāhaṃ suciraṃ tena nānuyātā tavoratā

Translation

Pārvatī said: “O Mahādeva, do You not recognize me even now—me who is established in sacred observance (niyama)? By that very resolve through which I have practiced tapas for so long, I have not turned away from my vow of devotion to You.”

Word by Word

• नियम-स्थाम्: (me) abiding in vows/discipline
• नियम-स्थाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नियम (प्रातिपदिक) + स्था (धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः; कृदन्तः ‘स्था’ धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (स्थ) → ‘नियमस्थ’ = नियमेषु स्थिता (abiding in observances)

• महादेव: O Mahādeva
• महादेव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः

• किम्: whether?/what?
• किम्: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रश्नार्थक निपात (interrogative particle)

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जानासि: you know
• जानासि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान/Present), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• न: not
• न: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध (negation particle)

• अधुना: now
• अधुना: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधुना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

• येन: by which
• येन: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; हेतु/साधनार्थे (by which/whereby)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सुचिरम्: for a long time
• सुचिरम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सुचिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयुक्तम् (accusative used adverbially), कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• तेन: therefore/by that
• तेन: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तस्मात् कारणात्/तेन हेतुना

• न: not
• न: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध

• अनुयाता: followed
• अनुयाता: Kriyā (क्रिया/वाच्ये)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + या (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘(अहम्) अनुयाता’ = followed

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उरता: affection/attachment
• उरता: Karta (कर्ता/नाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उरता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (पाठभेद/अर्थः) ‘उरता’ = अनुराग/प्रेम/आसक्ति (affection)

Speaker

Pārvatī

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It highlights niyama and vrata as inner steadiness: Pārvatī asserts unwavering devotion and disciplined tapas, pointing to the Shaiva principle that sincere perseverance ripens into Śiva’s anugraha (grace).

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

Pārvatī’s vow is directed to Mahādeva as the personal Lord (Saguna Śiva), showing that steadfast devotional observance is a direct path to communion with Śiva, the very reality symbolized and approached through the Śiva-liṅga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse suggests vrata-niyama: sustained discipline such as fasting/regulated living, japa of Śiva-mantras (notably the Pañcākṣarī), and focused meditation on Mahādeva without wavering from one’s resolve.