Shloka 16

गिरिजातपः-परीक्षा तथा सप्तर्षि-आह्वानम्

Girijā’s Austerity-Test and the Summoning of the Seven Sages

Devanagari script

तत्र गच्छत यूयं मच्छासनान्मुनिसत्तमाः । परीक्षां दृढतायास्तत्कुरुत प्रेमचेतसः

Transliteration

tatra gacchata yūyaṃ macchāsanānmunisattamāḥ | parīkṣāṃ dṛḍhatāyāstatkuruta premacetasaḥ

Translation

Pergilah ke sana, wahai para resi utama, atas perintah-Ku. Dengan hati yang dipenuhi bhakti penuh cinta, lakukanlah ujian atas keteguhan itu.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Adverbial location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)

• गच्छत: go
• गच्छत: क्रिया (Command/आज्ञा)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन — 2nd person plural

• यूयम्: you (all)
• यूयम्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Nominative plural

• मत्-शासनात्: from my command / by my order
• मत्-शासनात्: हेतु/अपादान (Cause/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् (अस्मद्-षष्ठीसमासार्थ) + शासन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘मम शासनम्’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन — Ablative singular

• मुनिसत्तमाः: O best of sages
• मुनिसत्तमाः: सम्बोधन (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (कर्मधारय-भाव: ‘मुनिषु सत्तमाः’), पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, बहुवचन — Vocative plural

• परीक्षाम्: a test, examination
• परीक्षाम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परीक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Accusative singular

• दृढतायाः: of firmness
• दृढतायाः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दृढता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन — Genitive singular

• तत्: that (accordingly)
• तत्: कर्म/विशेषण (Object/Adverbial)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Accusative singular; used adverbially ‘that/therefore’

• कुरुत: do, perform
• कुरुत: क्रिया (Command/आज्ञा)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन — 2nd person plural

• प्रेमचेतसः: O you whose minds are loving
• प्रेमचेतसः: सम्बोधन-विशेषण (Vocative adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रेमन् (प्रातिपदिक) + चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (‘प्रेम चेतसि येषाम्’), पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, बहुवचन — qualifying मुनिसत्तमाः

Speaker

Lord Śiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; it depicts Īśvara’s governance through command (śāsana) and the pedagogic ‘testing’ that matures the aspirant.

Significance: Frames pilgrimage as inner sādhanā: the Lord may arrange ‘parīkṣā’ to stabilize bhakti and niścaya; passing the test is itself a sign of ripening toward grace.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

Śiva emphasizes that true spiritual maturity is proven through dṛḍhatā—steadfastness in dharma and devotion—performed not with fear, but with prema (loving bhakti), aligning the seeker with Pati (Śiva) rather than remaining bound as paśu.

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

The verse reflects Saguna-Śiva’s role as the compassionate Lord who guides devotees through lived tests; such trials refine bhakti, making external worship (including Liṅga-pūjā) internal—steady remembrance, surrender, and obedience to Śiva’s śāsana (divine ordinance).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is to meet challenges with unwavering devotion—supporting one’s resolve through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and disciplined vrata-like steadiness, keeping the mind premacetasaḥ (love-centered) rather than agitated.