Shloka 23

सत्यप्रतिज्ञा-तपःसंवादः

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

Devanagari script

गृहवासम्परित्यज्य वनवासं समीहसे । लोहमिच्छसि देवेश त्यक्त्वा शेवधिमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

gṛhavāsamparityajya vanavāsaṃ samīhase | lohamicchasi deveśa tyaktvā śevadhimuttamam

Translation

Meninggalkan hidup berumah, engkau menginginkan hidup di rimba. Wahai Dewa para dewa, ini bagaikan membuang harta terbaik lalu mencari besi belaka.

Word by Word

• गृहवासम्: dwelling at home/household life
• गृहवासम्: कर्म (Karma/Object of parityajya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक) + वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘गृहे वासः/गृह-वासः’; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• परित्यज्य: having abandoned
• परित्यज्य: पूर्वक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त) उपसर्गः परि-
• Form: ल्यबन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), उपसर्ग (परि-), पूर्वकाल

• वनवासम्: forest-dwelling
• वनवासम्: कर्म (Karma/Object of samīhase)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक) + वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘वने वासः/वन-वासः’; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• समीहसे: you seek/endeavor for
• समीहसे: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ईह् (धातु) उपसर्गः सम्-
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• लोहम्: iron
• लोहम्: कर्म (Karma/Object of icchasi)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इच्छसि: you desire
• इच्छसि: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• देवेश: O Lord of gods
• देवेश: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘देवानाम् ईशः’; पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• त्यक्त्वा: having abandoned
• त्यक्त्वा: पूर्वक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकाल

• शेवधिम्: treasure
• शेवधिम्: कर्म (Karma/Object of tyaktvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शेवधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उत्तमम्: excellent/best
• उत्तमम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of śevadhim)

Speaker

Pārvatī

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames the householder/forest polarity as secondary to the true ‘treasure’: Śiva himself. In Siddhānta terms, external āśrama is not liberation; grace (anugraha) and right orientation to Pati are.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Shiva

FAQs

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

Pārvatī contrasts outer renunciation with inner discernment: abandoning a “treasure” for “iron” teaches that true spiritual wealth is the highest good—steadfast devotion and the grace of Pati (Śiva)—not merely changing one’s external mode of life.

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

The verse supports Saguna devotion as a concrete “treasure”: instead of valuing only external austerity, one should hold to the supreme refuge—Śiva as the accessible Lord (via Liṅga worship, mantra, and pūjā)—through which inner purification and liberation mature.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to prioritize inner practice over mere relocation: daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), Liṅga-arcana, and cultivating detachment (vairāgya) while sustaining sincere bhakti—whether in household life or forest life.