Shloka 22

पार्वत्याः तपः—हिमालयादिभिः उपदेशः / Pārvatī’s Austerity and Counsel from Himālaya and Others

Devanagari script

सर्वे मिलित्वा शक्राद्या गुरुमामंत्र्य विह्वलाः । सुमेरौ तप्तसर्वांगा विधिं मां शरणं ययुः

Transliteration

sarve militvā śakrādyā gurumāmaṃtrya vihvalāḥ | sumerau taptasarvāṃgā vidhiṃ māṃ śaraṇaṃ yayuḥ

Translation

Then all the gods—led by Śakra (Indra)—gathered together. Distressed, they respectfully took leave of their Guru; and with their whole bodies scorched by austerity on Mount Sumeru, they went for refuge to me, Brahmā (Vidhī).

Word by Word

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• मिलित्वा: having assembled
• मिलित्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मिल् (धातु) → मिलित्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), ‘having met/assembled’

• शक्र-आद्याः: Indra and others
• शक्र-आद्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (आदि-शब्देन ‘beginning with’)

• गुरुम्: the teacher
• गुरुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आमन्त्र्य: having consulted/invited
• आमन्त्र्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√मन्त्र् (धातु) → आमन्त्र्य (ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having invited/consulted’

• विह्वलाः: distressed
• विह्वलाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विह्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifies सर्वे/शक्राद्याः)

• सुमेरौ: on Mount Sumeru
• सुमेरौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुमेरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अधिकरण (location)

• तप्त-सर्व-अङ्गाः: with all limbs scorched
• तप्त-सर्व-अङ्गाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तप्त (कृदन्त, क्त; √तप्) + सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सर्वाणि अङ्गानि यस्य/येषां तप्तानि—‘with all limbs scorched’)

• विधिम्: Brahmā (Vidhi)
• विधिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

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

• शरणम्: as refuge
• शरणम्: Gati/Karma (गति/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; गत्यर्थे द्वितीया (as goal)

• ययुः: they went
• ययुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

Speaker

Brahmā (Vidhī), narrating within the Rudrasaṃhitā context

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga origin; it narrates a crisis-response: devas, scorched by tapas-heat on Sumeru, leave their guru Bṛhaspati and seek refuge in Brahmā (Vidhī) for guidance.

Significance: Emphasizes śaraṇāgati and the ‘guru–counsel–refuge’ chain: when afflicted, even devas seek a higher ordainer for diagnosis, ultimately leading toward Śiva’s resolution.

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Crisis escalation leading to divine council/refuge-seeking on Sumeru.

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Śakra)
• Bṛhaspati (Guru)
• Brahmā (Vidhī)
• Mount Sumeru
• Devas

FAQs

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

It highlights śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) as a decisive spiritual act: even powerful devas, exhausted by tapas, turn to a higher divine order for guidance—pointing to humility and dependence on grace rather than mere effort.

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

Although this verse shows the devas approaching Brahmā (Vidhī), the broader Shaiva narrative frames such crises as ultimately resolved through turning toward Lord Shiva’s saguna compassion and right worship—often culminating in Shiva’s guidance toward proper devotion and ritual orientation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse implies disciplined tapas combined with surrender; as a Shaiva takeaway, pair austerity with japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and an attitude of refuge in Shiva’s grace, rather than relying only on personal power.