Shloka 10

Jaṭilāvatāra-Parīkṣā: Pārvatyāḥ Tapasāṃ Parīkṣaṇam

The Jaṭilā Episode and the Testing of Pārvatī’s Austerity

Devanagari script

धृत्वैवं जटिलं रूपं जगाम गिरिजावनम् । अतिप्रीतियुतः शम्भुश्शङ्करो भक्तवत्सलः

Transliteration

dhṛtvaivaṃ jaṭilaṃ rūpaṃ jagāma girijāvanam | atiprītiyutaḥ śambhuśśaṅkaro bhaktavatsalaḥ

Translation

ഇങ്ങനെ ജടാധാരിയായ രൂപം ധരിച്ചു, ഭക്തവത്സലനായ ശംഭു-ശങ്കരൻ അതിപ്രീതിയോടെ ഗിരിജയുടെ വനത്തിലേക്ക് പോയി.

Word by Word

• धृत्वा: having assumed/held
• धृत्वा: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: धृ (धातु) → धृत्वा (कृदन्त, त्वान्त)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-रूपेण; त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb of manner)

• जटिलम्: matted-haired (ascetic-like)
• जटिलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जटिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; रूपम् इति विशेषण

• रूपम्: form
• रूपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जगाम: went
• जगाम: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• गिरिजा-वनम्: to Girijā’s forest
• गिरिजा-वनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरिजा (प्रातिपदिक) + वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गिरिजायाः वनम्)

• अति-प्रीति-युतः: endowed with great joy
• अति-प्रीति-युतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक) + युत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अतिशयेन प्रीत्या युतः)

• शम्भुः: Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शङ्करः: Śaṅkara
• शङ्करः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; शम्भोः समानाधिकरण-नाम

• भक्त-वत्सलः: affectionate to devotees
• भक्त-वत्सलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + वत्सल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भक्तेषु वत्सलः)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhikṣāṭana

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga setting; Śiva, in jaṭila ascetic guise, proceeds to Girijā’s forest—signaling a līlā oriented toward devotees and toward the Śiva-Śakti sphere (Girijā as the locus of tapas and divine union).

Significance: Sacralizes ‘Girijā-vana’ as an archetypal tapas-kṣetra: the forest where devotion, austerity, and divine play converge; encourages pilgrims to approach Śiva with bhakti (bhakta-vatsalatā) and disciplined joy.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva’s Saguna compassion: though transcendent, He willingly assumes an ascetic form and moves within the world out of loving delight, showing that grace responds to devotion (bhaktavātsalya).

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

By naming Him Śambhu and Śaṅkara and describing His chosen form (jaṭila), the verse supports Saguna worship—approaching the Lord through His forms and līlās, which ultimately lead the devotee toward the Supreme reality also revered in the Liṅga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as Jaṭādhara (matted-haired ascetic) while repeating the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating bhakti and inner vairāgya (renunciation) as the core practice.