Shloka 13

पार्वतीवाक्यं—शिवस्य परब्रह्मत्व-निरूपणम्

Pārvatī’s Discourse: Establishing Śiva as Parabrahman

Devanagari script

दर्शनार्थं शिवस्यादौ यथा गच्छति देवराट् । भूतादयस्तत्परस्य द्वारपालाश्शिवस्य तु

Transliteration

darśanārthaṃ śivasyādau yathā gacchati devarāṭ | bhūtādayastatparasya dvārapālāśśivasya tu

Translation

Just as the king of the gods goes first to obtain the darśana of Śiva, so too the Bhūtas and other attendants—ever intent upon Him—serve as Śiva’s gatekeepers.

Word by Word

• darśana-artham: for (the purpose of) seeing
• darśana-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: darśana + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; चतुर्थी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थे (purpose): 'for the sake of seeing'

• śivasya: of Śiva
• śivasya: Sambandha/Śeṣa (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी-शेष)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• ādau: at first, in the beginning
• ādau: Kālādhi karaṇa/Adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययीभूतम् (locative used adverbially): 'in the beginning/at first'

• yathā: as
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार/उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (as)

• gacchati: goes
• gacchati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• deva-rāṭ: king of the gods (Indra)
• deva-rāṭ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva + rāṭ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: deva (of gods) + rāṭ (king)

• bhūta-ādayaḥ: Bhūtas and others
• bhūta-ādayaḥ: Karta/Viśeṣya (कर्ता/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: bhūta (beings) + ādi (etc.)

• tat-parasya: of the one devoted to Him
• tat-parasya: Sambandha/Śeṣa (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी-शेष)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tat + para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: tat (that/He) + para (devoted to)

• dvāra-pālāḥ: door-guards
• dvāra-pālāḥ: Karta/Viśeṣya (कर्ता/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvāra + pāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: dvāra (door) + pāla (guard)

• śivasya: of Śiva
• śivasya: Sambandha/Śeṣa (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी-शेष)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-अव्यय (particle: 'but/indeed')

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Indra
• Bhutas

FAQs

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

It highlights that even Indra approaches Śiva for darśana, showing Śiva as the supreme Pati; His attendants (Bhūtas/gaṇas) symbolize the ordered, sanctified guardianship around the Lord’s presence, approached through reverence and devotion.

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

Darśana here aligns with Saguna worship—approaching Śiva as the accessible Lord with form and entourage; in Linga-worship, devotees similarly ‘approach’ the sanctum with humility, recognizing Śiva’s sovereignty and the sacred threshold guarded by dharma and purity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt a ‘threshold discipline’ before worship: enter the shrine with śauca (purity), offer salutations, and mentally seek darśana with the Panchākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), cultivating one-pointed devotion (tatparatā).