Shloka 56

Mahiṣāsura’s Conquest of Svarga and the Devas’ Appeal to Śiva and Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

वारुणीमद्रसं जातमुखरागाऽऽकुलेन्द्रिया । प्रोवाच परमेशानी मेघगंभीरया गिरा

Transliteration

vāruṇīmadrasaṃ jātamukharāgā''kulendriyā | provāca parameśānī meghagaṃbhīrayā girā

Translation

Having drunk the intoxicating liquor called Vāruṇī, her face flushed and her senses stirred, the Supreme Goddess (Pārvatī) spoke in a voice deep as thunderclouds.

Word by Word

• वारुणी-मद-रसम्: the essence of Varuṇī-wine intoxication
• वारुणी-मद-रसम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारुणी (प्रातिपदिक) + मद (प्रातिपदिक) + रस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: ‘वारुण्याः मदस्य रसः’; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• जात-मुख-रागा: whose face had become flushed
• जात-मुख-रागा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जात (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √जन्) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक) + राग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative): ‘जातः मुखे रागः यस्याः’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; adjective qualifying the speaker

• आकुल-इन्द्रिया: with agitated senses
• आकुल-इन्द्रिया: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आकुल (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: ‘आकुलानि इन्द्रियाणि यस्याः’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रोवाच: said/spoke forth
• प्रोवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; with उपसर्ग प्र

• परमेशानी: Parameśānī (the Supreme Goddess)
• परमेशानी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + ईशानी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: ‘परमा ईशानी’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मेघ-गंभीरया: with a cloud-deep voice
• मेघ-गंभीरया: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेघ (प्रातिपदिक) + गंभीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: ‘मेघवत् गंभीरया’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; adjective qualifying ‘गिरा’

• गिरा: by (her) speech/voice
• गिरा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिर्/गीर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Parvati (Parameśānī)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

It highlights the contrast between sensory agitation and divine authority: even when the senses are stirred, the Goddess remains Parameśānī, indicating that true spiritual sovereignty (śakti) is not diminished by outer states, but calls one back to inner steadiness.

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

In Saguna Shaiva devotion, the divine couple’s narrative (Śiva–Śakti) teaches devotees through lived episodes—showing how speech, resolve, and grace guide beings from disturbance toward dharma and ultimately toward Pati (Śiva) as the liberating Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is indriya-nigraha (sense-restraint) supported by japa of the Panchakshara—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and steadying disciplines like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of sobriety, awareness, and devotion.