Shloka 55
शिवशिवयोर्जगत्पितृमातृत्व-प्रतिपादनं तथा मेनायाः विमोहः (Śiva–Śivā as Cosmic Father and Mother; Menā’s Delusion and the Sages’ Intervention)
वरं ददौ शिवायै स तपन्त्यै तात शंकरः । नहीश्वरप्रतिज्ञातं विपरीताय कल्पते
varaṃ dadau śivāyai sa tapantyai tāta śaṃkaraḥ | nahīśvarapratijñātaṃ viparītāya kalpate
O dear one, Śaṅkara granted a boon to Śivā (Pārvatī) as she performed austerities; for what has been vowed by the Lord can never turn out otherwise, nor become contrary to His divine resolve.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages, within the Pārvatīkhaṇḍa narration)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: liberating
FAQs
It affirms the unfailing nature of Īśvara’s sankalpa (divine resolve): sincere tapas and devotion culminate in Śiva’s anugraha, and the Lord’s vow does not become fruitless or contrary.
Saguna Śiva, approached through form—such as the Liṅga—responds to steadfast bhakti and vrata; the verse highlights that the devotee’s trust rests on the Lord’s reliable promise to bestow grace.
It points to tapas supported by japa—especially Pañcākṣarī mantra japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya)—and disciplined vrata observance (as in Mahāśivarātri traditions), undertaken with unwavering faith in Śiva’s boon-bestowing grace.