Shloka 60

गिरिजाया तपोऽनुज्ञा

Permission for Girijā’s Austerities

Devanagari script

एवं चिंतयती नित्यं तेपे सा सुचिरं तपः । अधोमुखी निर्विकारा जटावल्कलधारिणी

Transliteration

evaṃ ciṃtayatī nityaṃ tepe sā suciraṃ tapaḥ | adhomukhī nirvikārā jaṭāvalkaladhāriṇī

Translation

Thus, ever contemplating in this way, she performed austerities for a very long time—face turned downward in inwardness, unmoved amid changing conditions, wearing matted locks and bark-garments—steadfastly directing her discipline toward Śiva, the Lord who grants liberation.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (thus)

• चिन्तयती: thinking
• चिन्तयती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चिन्त् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकर्तरि कृदन्त (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘thinking’; agrees with सा

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kala-Adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (always)

• तेपे: performed (austerity)
• तेपे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘performed austerity’

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• सुचिरम्: for a very long time
• सुचिरम्: Kala-Adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुचिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; used adverbially as duration-accusative (काल-व्यत्यय)

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• अधोमुखी: face-down
• अधोमुखी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधोमुखी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: अधः मुखं यस्याः सा; ‘with face downward’

• निर्विकारा: unchanging/steadfast
• निर्विकारा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्विकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; निः + विकारः; agreeing with सा

• जटा-अवल्कल-धारिणी: wearing matted hair and bark-garments
• जटा-अवल्कल-धारिणी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जटा + अवल्कल + धारिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: जटां च अवल्कलं च धारयति इति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष); feminine agent noun धारिणी

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents Pārvatī as the exemplar of focused tapas: steady contemplation, emotional non-reactivity (nirvikāratā), and ascetic simplicity, showing how disciplined devotion purifies bondage (pāśa) and turns the soul toward Śiva (Pati) for grace and liberation.

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

Her outward austerity and inward concentration reflect Saguna worship as a practical path—approaching Śiva through form, vow, and meditation—until the mind becomes stable enough to receive Śiva’s grace and realize his deeper, transcendent nature.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests inward-facing meditation (adhomukhī) with steadfast restraint and simplicity; in practice, devotees may pair such contemplation with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), along with Śaiva observances like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as supports to steadiness.