Shloka 18

पार्वतीप्रार्थना—हिमवत्पार्श्वे भिक्षुरूपेण याचनम् | Pārvatī’s Request: Śiva to Seek Her in Beggar-Form at Himālaya’s Court

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मादिकानि भूतानि त्वनित्यानि वरानने । दृष्टं यत्सर्वमेतच्च नश्वरं विद्धि भामिनि

Transliteration

brahmādikāni bhūtāni tvanityāni varānane | dṛṣṭaṃ yatsarvametacca naśvaraṃ viddhi bhāmini

Translation

O fair-faced one, even beings such as Brahmā and the rest are impermanent. Know, O radiant lady, that all this which is seen—everything without exception—is perishable.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्म-आदिकानि: beginning with Brahmā, etc.
• ब्रह्म-आदिकानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; विशेषण (adjectival)

• भूतानि: beings
• भूतानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha/Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक

• अनित्यानि: impermanent
• अनित्यानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• वरानने: O fair-faced one
• वरानने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर-आनन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; संबोधन

• दृष्टम्: seen
• दृष्टम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृश् (धातु) → दृष्ट (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• यत्: which/that
• यत्: Anuyogī (सम्बन्ध/relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative)

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• नश्वरम्: perishable
• नश्वरम्: Karma-pradhāna predicate (कर्मणि विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• विद्धि: know (you)
• विद्धि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative/आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

• भामिनि: O lovely/bright one
• भामिनि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भामिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: saṃsāra as perishable field (anitya-jagat)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It establishes vairāgya (dispassion) by declaring that all seen, created existence—even exalted gods like Brahmā—is transient; this turns the seeker toward the imperishable refuge, Lord Shiva (Pati), for moksha.

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

By contrasting the perishable world with the enduring reality of Shiva, it supports Linga and Saguna Shiva worship as a stable focus for devotion and contemplation, leading the mind beyond changing forms toward Shiva’s timeless essence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice daily contemplation on anityatā (impermanence) while doing japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” ideally with vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) and/or rudrākṣa to steady remembrance of Shiva as the eternal goal.