Shloka 4

पार्वतीवाक्यं—शिवस्य परब्रह्मत्व-निरूपणम्

Pārvatī’s Discourse: Establishing Śiva as Parabrahman

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मचारिस्वरूपेण प्रतारयितुमुद्यतः । आगतश्छलसंयुक्तं वचोवादीः कुयुक्तितः

Transliteration

brahmacārisvarūpeṇa pratārayitumudyataḥ | āgataśchalasaṃyuktaṃ vacovādīḥ kuyuktitaḥ

Translation

Assuming the guise of a brahmacārin (celibate ascetic), he came intent on deceiving her; with guile in his heart, he spoke words contrived through perverse reasoning.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मचारि-स्वरूपेण: in the form of a celibate student
• ब्रह्मचारि-स्वरूपेण: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचारि (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; साधन/प्रकारवाचक तृतीया (instrumental of manner): ‘ब्रह्मचारि-स्वरूप’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (brahmacāriṇas svarūpam)

• प्रतारयितुम्: to deceive
• प्रतारयितुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-तॄ/तॄ (धातु) [प्र-तारयति]
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-रूप (infinitive), प्रयोजनार्थक: ‘to deceive’

• उद्यतः: ready, intent
• उद्यतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्-यत् (धातु) → उद्यत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle used adjectivally): ‘ready/intent’

• आगतः: having come
• आगतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु) → आगत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त: ‘having come’

• छल-संयुक्तम्: connected with deceit
• छल-संयुक्तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छल (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुक्त (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ‘छलेन संयुक्तम्’ इति तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः (instrumental tatpurusha)

• वचः: speech, words
• वचः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (वचः = acc. sg.); ‘speech/words’

• वादीः: a speaker, one who speaks
• वादीः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वादिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नकारान्त-इन्-प्रातिपदिक (vadin) प्रथमा एकवचन रूप: वादी

• कु-युक्तितः: by bad reasoning, from faulty logic
• कु-युक्तितः: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + युक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): ‘from/through bad reasoning’; कु- उपसर्गपूर्वक ‘कुयुक्ति’

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhikṣāṭana

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

It highlights how true devotion and dharmic discernment are tested by deceptive appearances and clever but misleading arguments; steadfast tapas aligned to Śiva is not shaken by outward disguises.

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

The verse contrasts external forms and persuasive speech with inner truth—Linga and Saguna-Śiva worship train the mind to hold to the real (Śiva-tattva) rather than be swayed by māyā and sophistry.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate viveka (discernment) through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady daily Śiva-upāsanā; such practice strengthens the mind against deception and wavering.