Shloka 28

सत्यप्रतिज्ञा-तपःसंवादः

Pārvatī’s Vow of Truth and the Dialogue on Her Tapas

Devanagari script

भूषणानि दिव्यानि क्व सर्पाश्शंकरस्य च । क्व चरा देवतास्सर्वाः क्व च भूतबलिप्रियः

Transliteration

bhūṣaṇāni divyāni kva sarpāśśaṃkarasya ca | kva carā devatāssarvāḥ kva ca bhūtabalipriyaḥ

Translation

«Où sont les ornements divins—et où sont les serpents de Śaṅkara ? Où sont tous les dieux en mouvement—et où est Celui qui se réjouit des offrandes (balī) faites aux bhūtas ? (De tels contraires ne s’accordent pas.)»

Word by Word

• भूषणानि: ornaments
• भूषणानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (1st/2nd case), बहुवचन (plural)

• दिव्यानि: divine
• दिव्यानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• क्व: where
• क्व: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्व (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb: 'where?')

• सर्पाः: serpents
• सर्पाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st case), बहुवचन

• शंकरस्य: of Śaṅkara
• शंकरस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति (6th case, genitive), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction: 'and')

• क्व: where
• क्व: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्व (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• चराः: attendants/roamers
• चराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; 'चर' = attendant/roaming being

• देवताः: deities
• देवताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• क्व: where
• क्व: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्व (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• भूतबलिप्रियः: (he who is) fond of offerings to spirits/beings
• भूतबलिप्रियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूत + बलि + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: भूतानां बलिः (offering to beings) तस्य प्रियः = 'fond of offerings to beings'

Speaker

Pārvatī (speaking in doubt/contrast while reflecting on Śiva’s unusual, ascetic nature)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva’s transcendence of social and aesthetic opposites: He is beyond conventional “divine” display, yet compassionate to all classes of beings. In Shaiva thought, this points to the Lord as Pati who is not limited by external purity/impurity and who liberates through inner detachment.

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

The verse contrasts ornamentation with Śiva’s serpent-adorned, ash-smeared ascetic form—reminding devotees that Saguna Shiva may appear unconventional, yet the Liṅga and His forms signify the same supreme reality. Worship is directed to the tattva of Śiva, not merely to worldly notions of beauty or status.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to worship with simplicity and humility—offering bilva leaves, water, and mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), while cultivating vairāgya. Contemplating Śiva’s ash-and-serpent symbolism supports meditation on impermanence and freedom from attachment.