Shloka 5

पार्वतीवाक्यं—शिवस्य परब्रह्मत्व-निरूपणम्

Pārvatī’s Discourse: Establishing Śiva as Parabrahman

Devanagari script

शंकरस्य स्वरूपं तु जानामि सुविशेषतः । शिवतत्त्वमतो वच्मि सुविचार्य्य यथार्हतः

Transliteration

śaṃkarasya svarūpaṃ tu jānāmi suviśeṣataḥ | śivatattvamato vacmi suvicāryya yathārhataḥ

Translation

Je connais la véritable nature de Śaṅkara avec une clarté toute particulière. C’est pourquoi, après mûre réflexion et comme il convient, je vais maintenant exposer le tattva, le principe de Śiva.

Word by Word

• शंकरस्य: of Śaṅkara
• शंकरस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive): ‘of Śaṅkara’

• स्वरूपम्: true form, nature
• स्वरूपम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तु: indeed, but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधसूचक निपात (particle: ‘but/indeed’)

• जानामि: I know
• जानामि: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सु-विशेषतः: very particularly
• सु-विशेषतः: Prakara (प्रकार/Adverbial manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सु (अव्यय/उपसर्ग) + विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (adverb): ‘very particularly’; ‘सुविशेष’ + तः

• शिव-तत्त्वम्: the principle/reality of Śiva
• शिव-तत्त्वम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘शिवस्य तत्त्वम्’

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/तस्मात्-अर्थक (therefore/for this reason)

• वच्मि: I speak, I say
• वच्मि: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; रूपम्: वच्मि (I speak)

• सु-विचार्य: having well considered
• सु-विचार्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सु (अव्यय) + वि-चर् (धातु) → विचार्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): ‘having well considered’

• यथा-अर्हतः: as is proper
• यथा-अर्हतः: Prakara (प्रकार/Adverbial manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + अर्हत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘यथा’ (as) + तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त ‘अर्हतः’ (as is proper)

Speaker

A narrator/teacher within the Pārvatīkhaṇḍa discourse (contextually a sage expounding Śiva-tattva to the listener, as framed by Sūta’s narration in the Rudra Saṃhitā)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It establishes that Śiva-tattva should be taught only after clear realization and careful contemplation—pointing to Śiva as the supreme Pati whose true nature, when understood, becomes a direct means toward liberation.

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

By announcing a deliberate exposition of Śiva’s principle, the verse frames outward worship (Liṅga, mantra, pūjā) as grounded in right understanding: Saguna forms are approached with insight into the deeper Śiva-tattva they reveal.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It implies śravaṇa–manana (listening and reflection) as a discipline: study of Śiva’s teachings followed by contemplative japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to align devotion with true understanding.