Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 25

कौशिकी-गौरी तथा शार्दूलरूप-निशाचरस्य पूर्वकर्मवर्णनम् | Kauśikī-Gaurī and Brahmā’s account of the tiger-formed niśācara

Devanagari script

प्रणम्याश्वास्य बहुधा पितरौ विरहासहौ । तपः प्रणयिनो देवी तपोवनमहीरुहान्

Transliteration

praṇamyāśvāsya bahudhā pitarau virahāsahau | tapaḥ praṇayino devī tapovanamahīruhān

Translation

Après s’être prosternée, la Déesse consola maintes fois ses parents, incapables de supporter la douleur de la séparation. Puis, vouée au tapas, l’austérité sacrée, elle se mit en route vers les grands arbres de la forêt de pénitence, le saint bosquet où l’on accomplit l’ascèse.

Word by Word

• प्रणम्य: having bowed
• प्रणम्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वकाले (having bowed)

• आश्वास्य: having consoled
• आश्वास्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-श्वस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वकाले (having consoled)

• बहुधा: in many ways
• बहुधा: Visheshana (विशेषण/Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहुधा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार-अव्यय (adverb: in many ways)

• पितरौ: the two parents
• पितरौ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्विवचन; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd) द्विवचन; अत्र द्वितीया (object of आश्वास्य)

• विरहासहौ: unable to bear separation
• विरहासहौ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of पितरौ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विरह-असह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विरहस्य असहौ = unable to bear separation)

• तपः: austerity, penance
• तपः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• प्रणयिनः: devoted (to)
• प्रणयिनः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of देवी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रणयिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; -इन्-प्रत्ययान्त (one devoted/affectionate)

• देवी: the goddess
• देवी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तपोवन: penance-grove
• तपोवन: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Qualifier in compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक) + वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तपसः वनम् = forest of penance); अत्र प्रातिपदिक-रूपेण पूर्वपद

• महीरुहान्: trees
• महीरुहान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीरुह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Kedāranātha

Sthala Purana: Himālaya-associated Śiva presence: Devī’s tapas in Himalayan hermitage-forests evokes the broader Kedāra milieu where Śiva is sought through austerity and pilgrimage in the high mountains.

Significance: Tapas and darśana motif: undertaking hardship with devotion is framed as purifying pāśa (bondage) and ripening for Śiva’s anugraha.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Parents

FAQs

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

It presents the Shaiva path of disciplined tapas joined with compassion: the Goddess honors worldly duties (soothing her parents) yet chooses renunciation to realize union with Pati (Shiva), showing that liberation-oriented practice need not be heartless.

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

The verse frames the inner preparation for Saguna Shiva worship—steadiness, restraint, and single-pointed intent—by entering the tapovana, the traditional setting where devotees undertake vows and worship (often centered on Shiva’s presence as Linga).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Undertaking a vrata with tapas—daily japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), simple living, and meditative solitude in a sacred place—mirrors the tapovana ideal; Tripuṇḍra-bhasma and Rudrāksha may be adopted as supportive Shaiva disciplines.