Shloka 33

पार्वत्याः तपः-परीक्षा (Śiva Tests Pārvatī’s Austerity)

Devanagari script

सख्युवाच । शृणु साधो प्रवक्ष्यामि पार्वतीचरितं परम् । हेतुं च तपसस्सर्वं यदि त्वं श्रोतुमिच्छसि

Transliteration

sakhyuvāca | śṛṇu sādho pravakṣyāmi pārvatīcaritaṃ param | hetuṃ ca tapasassarvaṃ yadi tvaṃ śrotumicchasi

Translation

സഖി പറഞ്ഞു: ഹേ സാദുവേ, കേൾക്കുക; പാർവതിയുടെ പരമചരിതവും അവളുടെ തപസ്സിന്റെ സമ്പൂർണ്ണ ഹേതുവും—നീ കേൾക്കാൻ ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നുവെങ്കിൽ—ഞാൻ പറയും.

Word by Word

• सखी: the (female) friend
• सखी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सखी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case/प्रथमा), एकवचन; संबोधनार्थे वक्तृ-निर्देशः

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

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• साधो: O good one
• साधो: Sambodhana (संबोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन (Vocative/संबोधन), एकवचन

• प्रवक्ष्यामि: I will tell
• प्रवक्ष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future/भविष्यत्), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्गः प्र-

• पार्वती-चरितम्: the story/deeds of Pārvatī
• पार्वती-चरितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्वती (प्रातिपदिक) + चरित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पार्वत्याः चरितम्)

• परम्: supreme, excellent
• परम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier)

• हेतुम्: the cause/reason
• हेतुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तपसः: of austerity
• तपसः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• सर्वम्: all, entire
• सर्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्त-अव्यय (conditional particle)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, मध्यमपुरुष-सूचक; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• श्रोतुम्: to hear
• श्रोतुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/infinitival purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-रूप (Infinitive/तुमन्त), ‘to hear’

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

Speaker

Pārvatī’s friend (sakhī)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

It frames Pārvatī’s tapas as purposeful spiritual discipline, inviting the listener to understand both the sacred narrative (carita) and the inner cause (hetu)—a key Shaiva theme where devotion and austerity mature the soul toward union with Pati (Śiva).

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

By introducing Pārvatī’s exemplary devotion and penance undertaken for Śiva, it supports Saguna Śiva-upāsanā—approaching the Lord through personal relationship and steadfast practice, which in Purāṇic Shaiva tradition naturally culminates in reverence for Śiva’s forms, including the Liṅga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse points to tapas as a structured practice—regular japa (especially the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), vows, purity, and focused meditation on Lord Śiva—undertaken with clear intent and faithful listening (śravaṇa) to sacred teachings.