Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

विप्र उवाच । अहमिच्छाभिगामी च वृद्धो विप्रतनुस्सुधीः । तपस्वी सुखदोऽन्येषामुपकारी न संशयः

Transliteration

vipra uvāca | ahamicchābhigāmī ca vṛddho vipratanussudhīḥ | tapasvī sukhado'nyeṣāmupakārī na saṃśayaḥ

Translation

ബ്രാഹ്മണൻ പറഞ്ഞു— ‘ഞാൻ ഇച്ഛാനുസാരം സഞ്ചരിക്കുന്നവൻ; ഞാൻ വൃദ്ധൻ, ബ്രാഹ്മണദേഹം ധരിച്ച സുദീ. ഞാൻ തപസ്വി, മറ്റുള്ളവർക്ക് സുഖം നൽകുന്നവൻ, ഉപകാരി—ഇതിൽ സംശയമില്ല।’

Word by Word

• विप्रः: the brahmin
• विप्रः: Karta (कर्ता/वक्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

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

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, उत्तम-पुरुष, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nominative/Accusative), एकवचन

• इच्छा-अभिगामी: one who comes as desired / compliant
• इच्छा-अभिगामी: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इच्छा (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिगामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of अहम्)

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

• वृद्धः: old, aged
• वृद्धः: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of अहम्)

• विप्रतनुः: having a brahmin body (i.e., brahmin by form)
• विप्रतनुः: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक) + तनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (विप्रस्य तनुः)

• सुधीः: wise, intelligent
• सुधीः: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुधी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; इकारान्त-विशेषण (of अहम्)

• तपस्वी: an ascetic
• तपस्वी: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तपस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of अहम्)

• सुखदः: giver of happiness
• सुखदः: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुखद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of अहम्)

• अन्येषाम्: of/for others
• अन्येषाम्: Sampradana/Adhikarana-sambandha (सम्बन्ध: 'for/of others')
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• उपकारी: helpful, benefactor
• उपकारी: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपकारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of अहम्)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Pratijñā/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; वाक्ये विधेय-नाम (predicate noun)

Speaker

Vipra (a brāhmaṇa/ascetic character in the narrative)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhikṣāṭana

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The ‘vipra’ self-description sustains the concealment: Śiva speaks in a socially plausible identity (aged ascetic benefactor) while his sovereignty remains hidden.

Significance: Highlights the Śaiva ideal that true tapas expresses as lokopakāra (benefit to others); also warns that the Lord may speak from behind ordinary masks.

FAQs

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

The verse highlights an ascetic ideal: wisdom (sudhī), disciplined austerity (tapas), and active compassion (upakāra). In a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, such virtues purify the pashu (individual soul) and loosen pāśa (bondage), making one fit for Shiva’s grace.

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

Though the verse is not directly about the Liṅga, it describes the inner qualifications that make external worship fruitful—purity, restraint, and beneficence. Saguna Shiva worship in the Purana is repeatedly paired with right conduct so devotion becomes transformative rather than merely ritual.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is tapas supported by service: steady discipline, simplicity, and actions that relieve others’ suffering. As a practical Shaiva takeaway, one may pair daily japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with charitable help and self-restraint to align inner life with worship.