Shloka 9

Jaṭilāvatāra-Parīkṣā: Pārvatyāḥ Tapasāṃ Parīkṣaṇam

The Jaṭilā Episode and the Testing of Pārvatī’s Austerity

Devanagari script

अतीव स्थविरो विप्रदेहधारी स्वतेजसा । प्रज्वलन्मनसा हृष्टो दण्डी छत्री महोज्जलः

Transliteration

atīva sthaviro vipradehadhārī svatejasā | prajvalanmanasā hṛṣṭo daṇḍī chatrī mahojjalaḥ

Translation

He appeared exceedingly aged, bearing the form of a brahmin; by His own innate splendor He shone forth. With a mind blazing in spiritual power, He was joyful—holding a staff and a parasol, brilliantly radiant.

Word by Word

• अतीव: exceedingly, very
• अतीव: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतीव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• स्थविरः: aged, old
• स्थविरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थविर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• विप्र-देह-धारी: bearing a brahmin’s body/form
• विप्र-देह-धारी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक) + देह (प्रातिपदिक) + धृ (धातु) → धारी (कृदन्त, वर्तमानकृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विप्रस्य देहः यस्य/विप्रदेहं धारयति)

• स्व-तेजसा: by his own splendor
• स्व-तेजसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्वस्य तेजः)

• प्रज्वलत्-मनसा: with a blazing mind
• प्रज्वलत्-मनसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + ज्वल् (धातु) → प्रज्वलत् (कृदन्त, शतृ) + मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (प्रज्वलन्मनस् = प्रज्वलत् मनः यस्य/येन)

• हृष्टः: delighted, thrilled
• हृष्टः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृष् (धातु) → हृष्ट (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle)

• दण्डी: staff-bearer
• दण्डी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्डिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; इन्-प्रत्ययान्त

• छत्री: umbrella-bearer
• छत्री: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छत्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; इन्-प्रत्ययान्त

• महा-उज्जलः: very radiant
• महा-उज्जलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + उज्जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् उज्जलः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhikṣāṭana

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; Śiva’s adoption of an aged brāhmaṇa body with staff and parasol is a classic concealment motif—divinity masked as social-religious authority to test discernment and vrata.

Significance: Teaches that Śiva may arrive as the ‘ordinary’ (an old brāhmaṇa/ascetic); honoring dharma and humility toward such forms becomes a pilgrimage of perception (darśana-buddhi).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights Shiva’s līlā of assuming a humble outer form while remaining self-luminous within, teaching that the Divine (Pati) may be recognized not by appearance but by inner tejas and awakened consciousness.

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna manifestation—Shiva taking a perceivable form—yet points back to his Nirguna truth through “svatejasā,” indicating that the same Shiva worshiped as the Linga is the self-effulgent reality behind all forms.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dhyāna on inner tejas (the ‘prajvalan’ mind) with japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), cultivating discernment to see Shiva’s presence beyond external appearances.