Shloka 37

Jaṭilāvatāra-Parīkṣā: Pārvatyāḥ Tapasāṃ Parīkṣaṇam

The Jaṭilā Episode and the Testing of Pārvatī’s Austerity

Devanagari script

तच्छ्रुत्वा पार्वती देवी विप्रवाक्यं दुरासदम् । प्रत्युवाच महाक्रुद्धा शिवनिन्दापरं च तम्

Transliteration

tacchrutvā pārvatī devī vipravākyaṃ durāsadam | pratyuvāca mahākruddhā śivanindāparaṃ ca tam

Translation

Hearing those harsh and unbearable words spoken by the brāhmaṇa, the Goddess Pārvatī, greatly enraged, replied to him, for he was intent on reviling Śiva.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; श्रुत्वा इत्यस्य कर्म

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• पार्वती: Pārvatī
• पार्वती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्वती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• देवी: the goddess
• देवी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; पार्वती इत्यस्य अप्पोजिशन

• विप्र-वाक्यम्: the Brahmin’s statement
• विप्र-वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक) + वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विप्रस्य वाक्यम्)

• दुरासदम्: hard to approach/insufferable
• दुरासदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुरासद (प्रातिपदिक; दुर्-उपसर्ग + आसद/आसद्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; वाक्यम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• प्रति-उवाच: replied
• प्रति-उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; प्रति-उपसर्ग

• महाक्रुद्धा: greatly enraged
• महाक्रुद्धा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महā (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रुद्ध (कृदन्त; √क्रुध् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘महती क्रुद्धा’

• शिव-निन्दा-परम्: intent on slandering Śiva
• शिव-निन्दा-परम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + निन्दा (प्रातिपदिक) + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्; ‘शिवस्य निन्दायां परः’ (devoted to slander of Śiva)

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

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

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Shiva
• Brahmin

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that Shiva-nindā (reviling Śiva) is spiritually corrosive, and that true bhakti protects the sanctity of the Pati (Śiva) through righteous speech and firm discernment.

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

Since the Liṅga and Saguna Śiva are approached through devotion and reverence, the narrative warns that contemptuous speech toward Śiva undermines worship; Pārvatī’s reaction models protective devotion toward the worshipful form of Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A key takeaway is vāṅ-niyama (discipline of speech): avoid nindā, and instead steady the mind with Śiva-nāma-japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as a corrective to agitation and disrespect.