Shloka 7

अनरण्यसुता–पिप्पलादचरितम् / The Episode of Anaraṇya’s Daughter and Sage Pippalāda

Devanagari script

अथानरण्यकन्या सा सिषेवे भक्तितो मुनिम् । कर्मणा मनसा वाचा लक्ष्मीनारायणं यथा

Transliteration

athānaraṇyakanyā sā siṣeve bhaktito munim | karmaṇā manasā vācā lakṣmīnārāyaṇaṃ yathā

Translation

Then that maiden of the forest served the sage with devotion—by her actions, by her mind, and by her speech—just as Lakṣmī serves Nārāyaṇa.

Word by Word

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: मङ्गलार्थ/अनन्तरार्थक अव्यय (then/now)

• an-araṇya-kanyā: the forest-maiden
• an-araṇya-kanyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: an + araṇya + kanyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (अरण्यस्य कन्या; an- here as upasarga/negation per text tradition)

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• siṣeve: served, attended
• siṣeve: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sev (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• bhaktitaḥ: devoutly
• bhaktitaḥ: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb: ‘from/with devotion’)

• munim: the sage
• munim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• karmaṇā: by action
• karmaṇā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• manasā: by mind
• manasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• vācā: by speech
• vācā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• lakṣmī-nārāyaṇam: Lakṣmī and Nārāyaṇa
• lakṣmī-nārāyaṇam: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmī + nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व (लक्ष्मीश्च नारायणश्च)

• yathā: as, just like
• yathā: Upamāna-upameya-sambandha (उपमान-उपमेय-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक अव्यय (comparative particle: as/like)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse uses a Vaishnava exemplar (Lakṣmī–Nārāyaṇa) to illustrate ideal devoted service; it does not localize to a Jyotirliṅga.

Significance: Teaches the Siddhānta-aligned discipline of kāya–mānas–vāk purity in sevā; such integrated devotion is traditionally held to attract Śiva’s anugraha (grace) and loosen pāśa (bondage).

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Lakshmi
• Narayana

FAQs

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

The verse teaches integrated devotion—service through body, mind, and speech—showing that sincere seva and inner purity are the foundation of tapas leading toward Shiva’s grace and liberation.

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

It highlights the attitude behind Saguna worship: steady, loving attendance and reverence. The same threefold devotion (deed, thought, word) is applied in Linga-puja through careful ritual action, contemplative remembrance, and mantra-japa.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt threefold sadhana: (1) karma—daily Shiva-seva such as Linga-abhiṣeka and offering; (2) manas—dhyana on Shiva; (3) vāc—japa of the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” keeping speech truthful and devotional.