Shloka 48

Jaṭilāvatāra-Parīkṣā: Pārvatyāḥ Tapasāṃ Parīkṣaṇam

The Jaṭilā Episode and the Testing of Pārvatī’s Austerity

Devanagari script

गिरिजोवाच । वारणीयः प्रयत्नेन सख्ययं हि द्विजाधमः । पुनर्वक्तुमनाश्चायं शिवनिन्दां करिष्यति

Transliteration

girijovāca | vāraṇīyaḥ prayatnena sakhyayaṃ hi dvijādhamaḥ | punarvaktumanāścāyaṃ śivanindāṃ kariṣyati

Translation

Girījā (Pārvatī) said: “With every effort, restrain this vile brāhmaṇa, for he is bent on mischief. He longs to speak again and will slander Śiva.”

Word by Word

• girijā: Girijā
• girijā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: girijā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; speaker

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; √वच्: 'said'

• vāraṇīyaḥ: should be restrained
• vāraṇīyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāraṇīya (कृदन्त; √vṛ/var 'to restrain/ward off')
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; gerundive (कृत्य/अनीयर्): 'to be restrained' (predicate about dvijādhamaḥ)

• prayatnena: with effort
• prayatnena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prayatna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; means/instrument

• sakhyā: by (your) friendship
• sakhyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sakhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; 'by/through (your) friendship' (addressed to friend)

• ayam: this (one)
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; pronoun 'this (man)'

• hi: indeed, for
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle (निपात) giving emphasis/causal nuance

• dvija-adhamaḥ: a vile brāhmaṇa
• dvija-adhamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + adhama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; कर्मधारयः = 'base/lowest among twice-born'

• punar: again
• punar: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punar (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (अव्यय)

• vaktum: to speak
• vaktum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्) from √वच्: 'to speak'

• anāḥ: unwilling, intent (to)
• anāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anāḥ (प्रातिपदिक; 'unwilling/without desire')
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicate adjective to ayam

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable conjunction (समुच्चय)

• ayam: this (man)
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; repeated for emphasis

• śiva-nindām: blame of Śiva
• śiva-nindām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + nindā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुषः = 'blame of Śiva'

• kariṣyati: will do
• kariṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Future (लृट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; √कृ: 'will do'

Speaker

Girījā (Pārvatī)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Marks a boundary of sat-saṅga: restraining/avoiding Śiva-nindā is treated as protection from pāśa (bondage) that spreads through speech and association.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It warns that Śiva-nindā (slandering Śiva) is a grave spiritual fault that strengthens bondage (pāśa) through hostile speech and intent; devotion requires restraint, reverence, and protection of sacred discourse.

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

Linga/Saguṇa-Śiva worship is grounded in śraddhā and honor toward Śiva; the verse highlights that contemptuous speech undermines the devotee’s relationship with the Lord and disrupts the sanctity of worship and hearing (śravaṇa).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice vāṅ-niyama (discipline of speech) alongside japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” maintaining a devotional mind and avoiding offenses (aparādha), especially during vrata and pūjā.