Shloka 23

Jaṭilāvatāra-Parīkṣā: Pārvatyāḥ Tapasāṃ Parīkṣaṇam

The Jaṭilā Episode and the Testing of Pārvatī’s Austerity

Devanagari script

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इति तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रहस्य परमेश्वरी । उवाच वचनं प्रीत्या ब्रह्मचारिणमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

nandīśvara uvāca | iti tadvacanaṃ śrutvā prahasya parameśvarī | uvāca vacanaṃ prītyā brahmacāriṇamuttamam

Translation

ನಂದೀಶ್ವರನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ಅವನ ಮಾತುಗಳನ್ನು ಕೇಳಿ ಪರಮೇಶ್ವರಿ ನಗುತ್ತಾ, ಪ್ರೀತಿಯಿಂದ ಆ ಉತ್ತಮ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಚಾರಿಯನ್ನು ಉದ್ದೇಶಿಸಿ ಮಧುರ ವಚನಗಳನ್ನು ನುಡಿದಳು.

Word by Word

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

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्य-समाप्ति/quotation marker

• तत्-वचनम्: that speech
• तत्-वचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (तस्य वचनम्)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• प्रहस्य: having laughed
• प्रहस्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र-√हस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• परमेश्वरी: the Supreme Goddess
• परमेश्वरी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमेश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वचनम्: words
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• ब्रह्मचारिणम्: the brahmacārin
• ब्रह्मचारिणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• उत्तमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (ब्रह्मचारिणम् इति)

Speaker

Nandishvara (Nandi)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Nandi
• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Divine Grace (anugraha) expressed through the Goddess: after hearing the ascetic’s words, she responds with warmth and clarity. In a Shaiva lens, sincere tapas and humility invite the compassionate reply of Shakti, who guides the seeker toward Shiva-realization.

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

Though the Linga is not named here, the scene reflects Saguna devotion: the Divine (Shiva-Shakti) engages personally with the devotee/ascetic. Such narrative moments support Shiva Purana’s teaching that approachable forms and dialogues nurture faith, discipline, and steady worship that culminate in higher realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is brahmacarya (restraint and purity) supported by loving devotion. A practical takeaway is daily japa of the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a disciplined life, offered to Shiva with reverence for Shakti’s guiding grace.