Shloka 11

Jaṭilāvatāra-Parīkṣā: Pārvatyāḥ Tapasāṃ Parīkṣaṇam

The Jaṭilā Episode and the Testing of Pārvatī’s Austerity

Devanagari script

तत्रापश्यस्त्थितान्देवीं सखीभिः परिवारिताम् । वेदिकोपरि शुद्धान्तां शिवामिव विधोः कलाम्

Transliteration

tatrāpaśyastthitāndevīṃ sakhībhiḥ parivāritām | vedikopari śuddhāntāṃ śivāmiva vidhoḥ kalām

Translation

There he beheld the Goddess standing, surrounded by her companions—pure and radiant upon the altar-platform—appearing like Śivā herself, like a spotless digit of the Moon.

Word by Word

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

• अपश्यः: you saw
• अपश्यः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• स्थितान्: standing
• स्थितान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (PPP) ‘स्थित’; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), बहुवचन; (देवीं विशेषयति—‘standing’)

• देवीम्: the goddess
• देवीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सखीभिः: by/with (her) friends
• सखीभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सखी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन

• परिवारिताम्: surrounded
• परिवारिताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + वृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (PPP) ‘परिवारित’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; देवीं विशेषयति

• वेदिका: altar/platform
• वेदिका: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेदिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-सम्बन्धे (in compound) / प्रातिपदिक-पूर्वपद

• उपरि: upon
• उपरि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अधिकरणार्थ (on/above)

• शुद्धान्ताम्: pure within / pure-hearted
• शुद्धान्ताम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (शुद्धः अन्तः यस्याः/शुद्धः अन्तः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; देवीं विशेषयति

• शिवाम्: auspicious
• शिवाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; देवीं विशेषयति

• इव: like
• इव: Upamāna-marker (उपमान-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• विधोः: of the moon
• विधोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• कलाम्: a digit/phase
• कलाम्: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse frames Devī’s epiphanic purity on a vedikā (altar-platform), functioning as a narrative ‘darśana’ moment rather than a site-origin legend.

Significance: Darśana of Devī in purity (śuddhā) is presented as auspicious and preparatory for Śiva’s ensuing anugraha; the altar-platform imagery evokes temple/vedi sanctity.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Lunar simile (vidhoḥ kalā) foregrounds soma-symbolism: cool purity, reflective luminosity, and auspiciousness.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse presents the Goddess as śuddhā (perfectly pure) and altar-centered, indicating that divine grace (Śakti) is approached through inner and outer purity; her moonlike radiance symbolizes cooling compassion that steadies the mind for devotion to Pati (Śiva).

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

By likening the Goddess to Śivā and the moon’s digit, the text highlights Saguna worship—devotees approach Śiva together with Śakti, where sanctified space (the vedikā/altar) becomes the locus for perceiving the Divine in form and auspicious qualities.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain śauca (purity) and worship in a consecrated place (altar/vedikā); meditate on the cooling, moonlike radiance of Śiva-Śakti while repeating the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating a calm, sattvic mind.