Shloka 74

पार्वत्याः यात्रासंस्कारः तथा पातिव्रत्योपदेशः / Preparations for Girijā’s Auspicious Journey and the Teaching on Pātivratya

Devanagari script

स्वप्नेपि यन्मनो नित्यं स्वपतिं पश्यति ध्रुवम् । नान्यम्परपतिं भद्रे उत्तमा सा प्रकीर्तिता

Transliteration

svapnepi yanmano nityaṃ svapatiṃ paśyati dhruvam | nānyamparapatiṃ bhadre uttamā sā prakīrtitā

Translation

Even in dreams, she whose mind ever and unfailingly beholds only her own husband—and not another’s husband, O auspicious one—is declared to be the highest.

Word by Word

• svapne: in a dream
• svapne: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svapna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative of place/time)

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• yat: which
• yat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• manaḥ: mind
• manaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृपद (subject)

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावे प्रयोगः; क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative)

• sva-patim: her own husband
• sva-patim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘स्वस्य पतिः’); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म

• paśyati: sees
• paśyati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• dhruvam: certainly
• dhruvam: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dhruva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावे प्रयोगः; क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negative particle)

• anyam: another
• anyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण

• para-patim: another’s husband
• para-patim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक) + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय/षष्ठीभाव: ‘परः पतिः’/‘परस्य पतिः’); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• bhadre: O auspicious one
• bhadre: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhadra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; संबोधन

• uttamā: the best
• uttamā: Visheshya (विशेष्य/प्रातिपदिकार्थ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृ/विषय

• prakīrtitā: is proclaimed
• prakīrtitā: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + kīrt (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगे विधेय (is proclaimed)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (instructing Parvati on dharma and ideal conduct)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches manas-śuddhi (purity of mind): true virtue is not merely external conduct but inner one-pointedness and restraint, where even subtle desire does not stray from one’s rightful dharma.

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

As devotion to Saguna Shiva is marked by exclusive, steady remembrance (ananya-bhakti), this verse uses a household analogy: unwavering focus on one’s proper object mirrors the steadiness required in Linga-worship and Shiva-bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is mental discipline through japa of the Panchakshara mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and daily Shiva-smaraṇa, training the mind toward steadiness and purity rather than wandering desire.