Shloka 26
गिरिजाया तपोऽनुज्ञा
Permission for Girijā’s Austerities
अथ तां दुखितां ज्ञात्वा मेना शैलप्रिया शिवाम् । निदेशं सा ददौ तस्याः पार्वत्यास्तपसे मुने
atha tāṃ dukhitāṃ jñātvā menā śailapriyā śivām | nideśaṃ sā dadau tasyāḥ pārvatyāstapase mune
“Então, compreendendo que Śivā (Pārvatī)—a amada da Montanha (Himālaya)—estava aflita, Menā lhe deu uma instrução, ó sábio, orientando Pārvatī à prática do tapas para alcançar Śiva.”
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Significance: Frames tapas as a sanctioned path when aligned with dharma and directed toward Śiva; maternal permission becomes an enabling ‘anugraha-like’ support for the devotee’s sādhana.
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: teaching
FAQs
It presents tapas as a purifying discipline that steadies devotion and prepares the soul (paśu) to receive Śiva’s grace (anugraha), turning sorrow into a focused spiritual resolve.
Pārvatī’s movement toward tapas implies approach to Saguna Śiva through disciplined devotion; in practice this commonly expresses as worship of Śiva through liṅga-sevā, mantra-japa, and regulated vows that make the mind fit for His presence.
The takeaway is tapas supported by mantra-japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—along with simple vrata-like restraint and Śiva-dhyāna, as the narrative context points to austerity undertaken for attaining Śiva.