Shloka 8

Jaṭilāvatāra-Parīkṣā: Pārvatyāḥ Tapasāṃ Parīkṣaṇam

The Jaṭilā Episode and the Testing of Pārvatī’s Austerity

Devanagari script

सुप्रसन्नस्तपस्वीच्छाशमनादयमीश्वरः । ब्रह्मचर्य्यस्वरूपोऽभूत्तदाद्भुततरः प्रभुः

Transliteration

suprasannastapasvīcchāśamanādayamīśvaraḥ | brahmacaryyasvarūpo'bhūttadādbhutataraḥ prabhuḥ

Translation

To pacify the desire of the ascetics, this Lord—exceedingly gracious—then assumed the very form of brahmacarya, perfect celibate discipline. In that moment, the Sovereign became even more wondrous.

Word by Word

• सु-प्रसन्नः: very pleased
• सु-प्रसन्नः: Karta (कर्ता; विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + प्रसन्न (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; विशेषण (of ईश्वरः/प्रभुः); ‘सु’ = अतिशयार्थक (very)

• तपस्वी-इच्छा-शमन-आदिः: (having qualities like) asceticism, desire-control, pacification, etc.
• तपस्वी-इच्छा-शमन-आदिः: Karta (कर्ता; विशेषणवत्/उपपद)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्वी (प्रातिपदिक) + इच्छा (प्रातिपदिक) + शमन (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व/समुच्चयार्थ (a set: ‘tapasvī, desire, pacification, etc.’)

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता; निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• ईश्वरः: the Lord
• ईश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• ब्रह्मचर्य-स्वरूपः: embodiment of brahmacarya
• ब्रह्मचर्य-स्वरूपः: Karta (कर्ता; विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मचर्यस्य स्वरूपः = embodiment of celibacy)

• अभूत्: became/was
• अभूत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (then)

• अद्भुत-तरः: more wondrous
• अद्भुत-तरः: Karta (कर्ता; विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक) + तर (तद्धित-प्रत्यय; comparative)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; विशेषण (of प्रभुः); तर-प्रत्यय (comparative: more wonderful)

• प्रभुः: the Lord
• प्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; Śiva’s assumption of brahmacarya is a didactic-līlā to satisfy/quiet the tapasvins’ impulse and to reveal the ideal of disciplined conduct as a vehicle for grace.

Significance: Highlights brahmacarya as a śiva-vrata principle: restraint and purity become the ground for receiving Śiva’s anugraha; pilgrims/vratins emulate inner discipline rather than mere external marks.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva, as Pati (the Lord), compassionately adopts whatever form is needed to guide devotees—here, the ideal of brahmacarya—showing that mastery over desire is a direct support for purity of mind and liberation.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Shiva: the same transcendent Lord becomes approachable through a specific form and quality (brahmacarya). Linga-worship similarly focuses the mind on Shiva’s presence while cultivating inner restraint and devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt vows of self-restraint (brahmacarya/continence), perform japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and keep a disciplined daily worship (puja/abhisheka) mindset—using purity and control of the senses as the core sadhana.