Shloka 20

पार्वत्याः पितृगृहगमनं तथा मङ्गलस्वागतम् | Pārvatī’s Return to Her Father’s House and the Auspicious Welcome

Devanagari script

अथ विप्राः पुरोधाश्च सख्योन्याश्च स्त्रियः शिवाम् । गृहं प्रवेशयामासुर्बहुमानपुरस्सरम्

Transliteration

atha viprāḥ purodhāśca sakhyonyāśca striyaḥ śivām | gṛhaṃ praveśayāmāsurbahumānapurassaram

Translation

Then the brāhmaṇas, the family priests, and the other women—her companions—led Śivā (Pārvatī) into the house, going before her with great honor and reverent welcome.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध/अनुक्रम (Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (sequencing particle)

• विप्राः: Brahmins
• विप्राः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन

• पुरोधाः: priests
• पुरोधाः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरोधस्/पुरोधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘purohita’ sense

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सख्यः: female friends
• सख्यः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सखी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन

• अन्याः: other
• अन्याः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘सख्यः/स्त्रियः’)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• स्त्रियः: women
• स्त्रियः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन

• शिवाम्: Śivā (Pārvatī)
• शिवाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेष्य (proper name: Pārvatī)

• गृहम्: the house
• गृहम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• प्रवेशयामासुः: they led (her) in
• प्रवेशयामासुः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-विश् (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; णिजन्त (causative)

• बहुमान-पुरःसरम्: with great honor in front / preceded by honor
• बहुमान-पुरःसरम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहुमान (प्रातिपदिक) + पुरःसर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘गृहम्’/or adverbially ‘with honor in front’): ‘बहुमानः पुरः यस्य’ (honour preceding)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse highlights dharma expressed as reverent hospitality: Śivā (Pārvatī), the embodiment of Śakti, is welcomed with honor, indicating that spiritual life in Śaiva tradition also sanctifies the household (gṛhastha) through respect, purity, and devotion.

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

By honoring Śivā as the divine consort, the narrative reinforces Saguna devotion—Shiva with Śakti—where worship is not abstract alone but lived through sacred relationships, auspicious rites, and reverence that mirrors how devotees honor Śiva in the Liṅga with upacāras (respectful offerings).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests the bhāva of satkāra (reverent welcome): begin any pūjā by invoking auspiciousness with clean space, respectful reception, and devotion—practically expressed through simple upacāras like offering water, incense, and a heartfelt mantra such as “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”