Shloka 24

स्वप्नवर्णनपूर्वकं संक्षेपशिवचरितवर्णनम् / Dream-Portents and a Concise Account of Śiva’s Career

Devanagari script

सेवार्थं तस्य तनयामुपदिश्य तपस्विनः तं । वै प्रार्थितवांस्तस्यां न तदांगीचकार सः

Transliteration

sevārthaṃ tasya tanayāmupadiśya tapasvinaḥ taṃ | vai prārthitavāṃstasyāṃ na tadāṃgīcakāra saḥ

Translation

For the sake of service, the ascetic recommended to him the sage’s daughter. He indeed sought her hand, but at that time she did not accept him.

Word by Word

• सेवार्थम्: for service
• सेवार्थम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेवा + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (सेवायाः अर्थः), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थक (purpose)

• तस्य: of him/of that
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• तनयाम्: daughter
• तनयाम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तनया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उपदिश्य: having instructed
• उपदिश्य: पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + दिश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), धातु: उपदिश्; ‘having instructed/assigned’

• तपस्विनः: of the ascetic
• तपस्विनः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन (or प्रथमा बहुवचन possible by form; here gen. sg. fits: ‘of the ascetic’)

• तम्: him
• तम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: निपात
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• प्रार्थितवान्: requested
• प्रार्थितवान्: कर्ता (agent; with सः implied)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अर्थ् (धातु)
• Form: क्तवतु (past active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘having requested’

• तस्याम्: in her/with her
• तस्याम्: अधिकरण (location/with regard to her)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: निषेध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध निपात (negation particle)

• तदा: then
• तदा: कालाधिकरण (time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• अङ्गीचकार: accepted
• अङ्गीचकार: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अङ्गी + कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘accepted/assented’

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

It highlights that even when a proposal is supported by ascetic authority, union is not merely social—it must align with inner readiness and dharma; in Shaiva thought, purity of intention and ripeness of karma govern life-events.

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

The Pārvatīkhaṇḍa frames relationships and life-stages as supports for approaching Saguna Shiva through disciplined living; the ideal of seva (service) becomes a preparatory bhakti that matures into steadfast devotion to Shiva (often expressed through Linga-worship).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse points to seva and restraint as the practical takeaway; a fitting Shaiva practice is daily Panchākṣarī japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with a service-vow, supported by Tripuṇḍra bhasma and rudrākṣa as reminders of discipline and devotion.