Shloka 17

Jaṭilāvatāra-Parīkṣā: Pārvatyāḥ Tapasāṃ Parīkṣaṇam

The Jaṭilā Episode and the Testing of Pārvatī’s Austerity

Devanagari script

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इति पृष्टस्तु पार्वत्या ब्रह्मचारी स वै द्विजः । प्रत्युवाच द्रुतम्प्रीत्या शिवाभावपरीक्षया

Transliteration

nandīśvara uvāca | iti pṛṣṭastu pārvatyā brahmacārī sa vai dvijaḥ | pratyuvāca drutamprītyā śivābhāvaparīkṣayā

Translation

ನಂದೀಶ್ವರನು ಹೇಳಿದರು—ಪಾರ್ವತಿ ಹೀಗೆ ಪ್ರಶ್ನಿಸಿದಾಗ, ಆ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಚಾರಿ ನಿಜಕ್ಕೂ ದ್ವಿಜನೂ ಪಂಡಿತನೂ ಆಗಿದ್ದನು; ಶಿವಭಾವವನ್ನು ಪರೀಕ್ಷಿಸಲು ಸಂತೋಷದಿಂದ ತಕ್ಷಣ ಉತ್ತರಿಸಿದನು।

Word by Word

• नन्दीश्वरः: Nandīśvara
• नन्दीश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दीश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: Nipāta (निपात/Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्ति-सूचक निपात

• पृष्टः: asked
• पृष्टः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रच्छ् (धातु) → पृष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle)

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: Nipāta (निपात/Discourse)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वय निपात (particle: 'but/indeed')

• पार्वत्या: by Pārvatī
• पार्वत्या: Karta (कर्ता/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्वती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ब्रह्मचारी: the brahmacārin
• ब्रह्मचारी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वै: indeed
• वै: Nipāta (निपात/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• द्विजः: a twice-born (brāhmaṇa)
• द्विजः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रत्युवाच: replied
• प्रत्युवाच: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति+वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• द्रुतम्: quickly
• द्रुतम्: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्रुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (accusative used adverbially: 'quickly')

• प्रीत्या: with affection
• प्रीत्या: Karaṇa (करण/Means-manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शिव-अभाव-परीक्षया: due to the test about Śiva's absence
• शिव-अभाव-परीक्षया: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + अभाव (प्रातिपदिक) + परीक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (genitive/ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa sense: 'by the test regarding the absence of Śiva')

Speaker

Nandishvara (Nandi)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Nandi
• Parvati
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights the traditional theme of spiritual testing: true devotion to Śiva is proven through steadiness of heart and right understanding of Śiva-bhāva, not merely through emotion or circumstance.

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

The verse frames devotion as a lived conviction; in Śaiva practice this ripens into steadfast Saguna worship—such as Linga-pūjā—where the devotee holds Śiva’s presence and grace as the central reality despite external tests.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is disciplined bhakti: daily mantra-japa (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a firm inner resolve, treating challenges as occasions to deepen Śiva-bhāva.