Shloka 31

पार्वतीवाक्यं—शिवस्य परब्रह्मत्व-निरूपणम्

Pārvatī’s Discourse: Establishing Śiva as Parabrahman

Devanagari script

इति बुध्या समालोक्य स्वया सत्या सुतत्त्वतः । शिवार्थं वनमागत्य करोमि विपुलं तपः

Transliteration

iti budhyā samālokya svayā satyā sutattvataḥ | śivārthaṃ vanamāgatya karomi vipulaṃ tapaḥ

Translation

Having thus reflected with her own true discernment, and having understood the reality as it is, she came to the forest for the sake of attaining Śiva and undertook abundant austerity.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यादि-उक्त्यर्थक (quotative/thus)

• बुध्या: by (her) understanding
• बुध्या: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण (by intellect)

• समालोक्य: having considered
• समालोक्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्-आ-लोक् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund): ‘having observed/considered’

• स्वया: by her own
• स्वया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण: ‘by her own’ (agreeing with सत्या/बुध्या)

• सत्या: true
• सत्या: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण/भाव: ‘true, truthful’

• सु-तत्त्वतः: in accordance with true principle
• सु-तत्त्वतः: Prakara (प्रकार/According to)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सु (अव्यय) + तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय: ‘from true reality / in accordance with true principle’; ‘सुतत्त्व’ + तः

• शिव-अर्थम्: for Śiva’s sake
• शिव-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थक द्वितीया: ‘for Śiva’s sake’; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘शिवस्य अर्थः’

• वनम्: to the forest
• वनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; गत्यर्थक्रियायां कर्म (object of motion)

• आगत्य: having come
• आगत्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund): ‘having come’

• करोमि: I do, I perform
• करोमि: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• विपुलम्: abundant, great
• विपुलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विपुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (agreeing with तपः)

• तपः: austerity, penance
• तपः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (तपः = acc. sg.)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Forest-tapas motif: the Goddess, discerning Śiva’s supreme status, goes to the forest to perform tapas for union with Śiva—an archetype later localized in many regional sthala traditions but not tied here to a single Jyotirliṅga.

Significance: Models sādhana: viveka (true discernment) → vairāgya (withdrawal) → tapas (discipline) aimed at Śiva-prāpti; inspires pilgrims to undertake vrata/tapas at sacred groves and Śiva-kṣetras.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights that true spiritual progress begins with right discernment (buddhi) and clear grasp of tattva, culminating in focused tapas and devotion directed toward Pati—Lord Shiva—as the supreme refuge and goal.

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

The verse emphasizes approaching Shiva with a definite aim (śivārtham). In practice, this aligns with Saguna worship—such as Linga-upāsanā—where concentrated devotion and disciplined vows channel the mind toward Shiva’s grace and realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests committed tapas: living with restraint, sustained japa (especially the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and steady meditation on Shiva—supported, where appropriate, by Shaiva observances like bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa.