Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 22

गिरिजातपः-परीक्षा तथा सप्तर्षि-आह्वानम्

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

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्युक्ता सा शिवा देवी गिरींद्रतनया द्विजैः । प्रत्युवाच वचस्सत्यं सुगूढमपि तत्पुरः

Transliteration

brahmovāca | ityuktā sā śivā devī girīṃdratanayā dvijaiḥ | pratyuvāca vacassatyaṃ sugūḍhamapi tatpuraḥ

Translation

ブラフマーは言った。かく二度生まれの聖仙たちに問われて、山の主の娘なる女神シヴァは、彼らの前で、たとえその意が深く秘められていようとも、真実の言葉をもって答えた。

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• उक्ता: having been spoken to
• उक्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच् (धातु) → उक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त (past participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (nominative), एकवचन (singular); ‘having been addressed’

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• शिवा: Śivā (Pārvatī)
• शिवा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (nominative), एकवचन (singular); नाम (proper name)

• देवी: the goddess
• देवी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (nominative), एकवचन (singular); अप्पोजिशन to 'शिवा'

• गिरीन्द्र-तनया: daughter of the lord of mountains
• गिरीन्द्र-तनया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरीन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + तनया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (nominative), एकवचन (singular); अप्पोजिशन to 'सा'

• द्विजैः: by the twice-born (brahmins)
• द्विजैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया (instrumental), बहुवचन (plural)

• प्रत्युवाच: replied
• प्रत्युवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-उच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• वचः: speech/words
• वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन (singular)

• सत्यम्: true
• सत्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण to 'वचः'

• सुगूढम्: very secret/hidden
• सुगूढम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय) + गूढ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √गुह्/√गूह्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण to 'वचः'

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: ‘even/also’)

• तत्-पुरः: before them/in their presence
• तत्-पुरः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + पुरस्/पुरः (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययार्थ (locative sense): ‘in their presence/before them’

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Parvati
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights that divine instruction may be simultaneously truthful and subtle—meant to be understood through devotion and inner maturity, a key Shaiva Siddhanta theme of gradual revelation of Shiva-tattva.

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

By presenting the Goddess as the revealer of profound meaning, it supports Saguna worship where Shiva’s reality is approached through sacred dialogue, devotion, and disclosed teachings that lead the devotee toward deeper realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse implies attentive listening (śravaṇa) and contemplation (manana) of Shaiva teachings; practically, this pairs well with daily japa of the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to unfold the ‘hidden’ meaning inwardly.