Shloka 68

गिरिजाया तपोऽनुज्ञा

Permission for Girijā’s Austerities

Devanagari script

सिंहा गावश्च सततं रागादिदोषसंयुताः । तन्महिम्ना च ते तत्र नाबाधंत परस्परम्

Transliteration

siṃhā gāvaśca satataṃ rāgādidoṣasaṃyutāḥ | tanmahimnā ca te tatra nābādhaṃta parasparam

Translation

Lions and cows, though ever subject to faults such as passion and the like, did not harm one another there—restrained by the power of His glory.

Word by Word

• सिंहाः: lions
• सिंहाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिंह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• गावः: cows
• गावः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• सततम्: constantly
• सततम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्ययीभूत (adverbial use: always/constantly)

• रागादिदोषसंयुताः: endowed with faults like passion etc.
• रागादिदोषसंयुताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राग + आदि + दोष + संयुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; समास: रागादयः दोषाः तैः संयुताः (endowed with faults like passion etc.)

• तत्: by that
• तत्: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद-रूपेण (in compound sense: ‘that’)

• महिम्ना: by (its) greatness
• महिम्ना: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महिमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण/हेतु (by the greatness)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb: there)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक निपात (negation particle)

• अबाधन्त: did not harm/afflict
• अबाधन्त: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बाध् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; ‘न’ सह निषेध

• परस्परम्: each other
• परस्परम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परस्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव/क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्यय (reciprocal adverb: mutually)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Common sacred-space motif: in the aura of Śiva’s/Devī’s tapas-tejas, natural predator-prey hostility is suspended, indicating dharma-sthiti in the precinct.

Significance: Portrays the holy precinct as a zone of non-violence and harmony; encourages pilgrims to cultivate ahiṃsā and inner restraint.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

FAQs

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

It teaches that in the sphere of Shiva’s grace (His mahimā), even beings driven by rāga and other defects become pacified; hostility subsides, revealing how the Lord’s presence purifies the pashu-nature and supports dharma.

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

The verse points to Saguna Shiva’s tangible sanctifying power: devotion to Shiva (often centered on the Linga) creates an atmosphere of inner restraint and harmony, where aggressive impulses are calmed by remembrance and proximity to the Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice steady Shiva-smaraṇa with the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while maintaining purity through simple disciplines like applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and cultivating ahiṃsā—so the mind’s “predator and prey” tendencies cease to clash.