Shloka 24

गौरीप्रवेशः—शिवसाक्षात्कारः

Gaurī’s Entry and the Vision of Śiva

Devanagari script

लज्जया न किमप्यूचे कौशिकी वर्णनात्परम् । तदेव वर्णयाम्यद्य शृणु देव्याश्च वर्णनम्

Transliteration

lajjayā na kimapyūce kauśikī varṇanātparam | tadeva varṇayāmyadya śṛṇu devyāśca varṇanam

Translation

Out of modesty I spoke nothing beyond the description of Kauśikī. Yet today I shall describe that very same matter—listen to the account of the Goddess, Devī.

Word by Word

• lajjayā: out of shyness
• lajjayā: Hetu (हेतु/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lajjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• kim: anything
• kim: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Neuter Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); अनिर्दिष्ट-वस्तु (indefinite with api)

• api: even/any
• api: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात); here: indefinitizing/emphatic with kim

• ūce: I said/spoke
• ūce: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्/liṭ), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); परस्मैपद

• kauśikī: Kauśikī (name)
• kauśikī: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kauśikī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• varṇanāt: than description/from describing
• varṇanāt: Apādāna (अपादान/पञ्चमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṇana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• param: beyond, further
• param: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); used adverbially: 'beyond'

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Neuter Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारण-निपात)

• varṇayāmi: I describe
• varṇayāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: varṇ (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्/laṭ), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); परस्मैपद

• adya: today/now
• adya: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of time (काल-अव्यय)

• śṛṇu: listen
• śṛṇu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्/loṭ), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); परस्मैपद

• devyāḥ: of the goddess
• devyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चय-निपात)

• varṇanam: description
• varṇanam: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṇana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Reference to Kauśikī as Devī’s manifestation; not a Jyotirliṅga episode but a Devī-avatāra narration within Śiva Purāṇa’s Śaiva frame.

Significance: Hearing/reciting Devī’s varṇana is framed as śravaṇa-bhakti that purifies and aligns the devotee with Śiva-Śakti grace.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Kaushiki
• Devi

FAQs

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

The verse highlights reverent restraint in sacred narration: divine realities—especially the Goddess’ glory—are approached with humility (lajjā) and then taught carefully. In Shaiva understanding, honoring Śakti (the Goddess) supports right knowledge of Pati (Śiva) and deepens bhakti that leads toward liberation.

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

By turning to the Goddess’ description, the text implicitly affirms Śiva-Śakti unity in Saguna worship: devotion to the Linga and devotion to the Goddess are complementary expressions of the same supreme reality, where Śiva is Pati and Śakti is His inseparable power.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is śravaṇa (devotional listening) with humility—hearing the Goddess’ līlā and tattva as a discipline. This can be paired with daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while contemplating Śiva-Śakti non-separation.