Shloka 29

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

Devanagari script

ईदृशं तव सौंदर्यं कथं व्यर्थीकृतं त्वया । हित्वा वस्त्राण्यनेकानि चर्मादि च धृतं त्वया

Transliteration

īdṛśaṃ tava sauṃdaryaṃ kathaṃ vyarthīkṛtaṃ tvayā | hitvā vastrāṇyanekāni carmādi ca dhṛtaṃ tvayā

Translation

“Tamanha é a tua beleza; como a tornaste vã? Abandonando muitas vestes finas, passaste a usar peles e coisas semelhantes.”

Word by Word

• ईदृशम्: such, of this kind
• ईदृशम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सौन्दर्यम्: beauty
• सौन्दर्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौन्दर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• व्यर्थीकृतम्: made useless/wasted
• व्यर्थीकृतम्: Kriyā (क्रिया; विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यर्थी-कृ (धातु; कृ with उपसर्ग/नामधातु-भाव)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; ‘made futile’

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karta (कर्ता; agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• हित्वा: having abandoned
• हित्वा: Kriyā (क्रिया; पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव

• वस्त्राणि: garments
• वस्त्राणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

• अनेकानि: many
• अनेकानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; विशेषण (वस्त्राणि)

• चर्मादि: skin etc. (hide and the like)
• चर्मादि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चर्म + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (चर्म च आदि च) ‘etc. beginning with skin’

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

• धृतम्: worn
• धृतम्: Kriyā (क्रिया; विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; ‘worn/held’

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karta (कर्ता; agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Himālaya (Himavān), speaking to Pārvatī

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

It contrasts worldly ornamentation with the path of tapas (austerity): true spiritual beauty is not external adornment but steadfast renunciation undertaken for union with Pati (Lord Shiva) and for purification of the soul (paśu) from bonds (pāśa).

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

Pārvatī’s rejection of luxurious clothing reflects single-pointed devotion to Saguna Shiva (the personal Lord) and readiness for disciplined worship—approaching Shiva not through display but through inner sincerity, purity, and self-restraint that culminate in divine grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse implies vairagya and simplicity as supportive disciplines for japa and dhyāna—such as repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a restrained lifestyle; it aligns with Shaiva practices like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as aids to focused devotion, though not explicitly named here.