Shloka 24

पार्वतीवाक्यं—शिवस्य परब्रह्मत्व-निरूपणम्

Pārvatī’s Discourse: Establishing Śiva as Parabrahman

Devanagari script

दुराचाराश्च पापाश्च देवेभ्यस्ते विनिर्गताः । तत्त्वं ते नैव जानन्ति शिवस्यागुणरूपिणः

Transliteration

durācārāśca pāpāśca devebhyaste vinirgatāḥ | tattvaṃ te naiva jānanti śivasyāguṇarūpiṇaḥ

Translation

Those of wicked conduct and sinful nature, though sprung forth from the gods, do not at all know the true reality of Śiva, whose essence is nirguṇa—beyond the guṇas.

Word by Word

दुराचाराःevil-doers, of bad conduct

चand

पापाःsinners, wicked ones

चand

देवेभ्यःfrom the gods

तेthey

विनिर्गताःhave come forth, have emerged

तत्त्वम्the truth, reality

तेthey / of them

नnot

एवindeed, at all

जानन्तिknow

शिवस्यof Śiva

अगुणरूपिणःof (him) whose form is beyond qualities

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Purāṇic account to the sages, within the Pārvatīkhaṇḍa context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

Shiva

Devas

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva’s highest reality (tattva) is nirguṇa—beyond prakṛti’s three guṇas—so mere status, birth, or celestial power cannot guarantee true knowledge; purity and right understanding are essential for realizing Pati (Shiva).

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

Though Shiva is ultimately nirguṇa, devotees approach Him through saguna supports like the Śiva-liṅga, mantra, and pūjā; these disciplines purify the mind so one may progress from form-based devotion to insight into Shiva’s guṇa-transcending nature.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt purifying Shaiva sādhana—japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), wearing rudrākṣa, applying tripuṇḍra-bhasma, and steady dhyāna on the liṅga—to overcome pāpa and cultivate fitness to know Shiva-tattva.