Shloka 35

पिप्पलादावतारकथनम्

Account of the Pippalāda Avatāra

Devanagari script

आगत्य तत्र सा दृष्ट्वा न पतिं स्वन्तपस्विनी । गृहकार्यं च सा कृत्वाखिलम्पतिनिदेशतः

Transliteration

āgatya tatra sā dṛṣṭvā na patiṃ svantapasvinī | gṛhakāryaṃ ca sā kṛtvākhilampatinideśataḥ

Translation

When she arrived there, that virtuous lady, practiced in austerity, did not see her husband. Yet, in keeping with his instructions, she carried out all the household duties in full.

Word by Word

• आगत्य: having come
• आगत्य: Kriyā (क्रिया; पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund): ‘having come’

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriyā (क्रिया; पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund): ‘having seen’

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• पतिम्: husband
• पतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• स्व-तपस्विनी: the virtuous ascetic woman
• स्व-तपस्विनी: Karta (कर्ता; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + तपस्विनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (स्वा तपस्विनी)

• गृह-कार्यं: household work
• गृह-कार्यं: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक) + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (गृहस्य कार्यम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Kriyā (क्रिया; पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund): ‘having done’

• अखिलम्: all (of it)
• अखिलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier of गृहकार्यं understood/elliptic)

• पति-निदेशतः: according to the husband's instruction
• पति-निदेशतः: Hetu/Anusāra (हेतु/अनुसार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक) + निदेश (प्रातिपदिक) + तः (तसिल्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तसिलन्त-अव्यय (ablatival adverb): ‘from/according to instruction’; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (पतेः निदेशः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

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 highlights dharma as a form of bhakti: even in separation or uncertainty, steadfast service and disciplined conduct purify the mind and align the devotee with Pati (Shiva) through obedience and sincerity.

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

The verse reflects Saguna devotion expressed through seva and order in life—serving the Lord’s will. In Shaiva practice, such disciplined living supports focused Linga-worship by making the home and mind fit for puja.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to do daily duties as Shiva-arpana (offering to Shiva) while repeating the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” maintaining purity and regularity in daily worship.