Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 28

गिरिजाया तपोऽनुज्ञा

Permission for Girijā’s Austerities

Devanagari script

मातरं पितरं साथ प्रणिपत्य मुदा शिवा । सखीभ्यां च शिवं स्मृत्वा तपस्तप्तुं समुद्गता

Transliteration

mātaraṃ pitaraṃ sātha praṇipatya mudā śivā | sakhībhyāṃ ca śivaṃ smṛtvā tapastaptuṃ samudgatā

Translation

மகிழ்ச்சியுடன் சிவா (பார்வதி) தாய் தந்தைக்கு வணங்கினாள்; மேலும் இரு தோழிகளுடன், பகவான் சிவனை நினைந்து, தவம் செய்யப் புறப்பட்டாள்।

Word by Word

• मातरम्: mother
• मातरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• पितरम्: father
• पितरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• साथ: together, along with
• साथ: Sahārtha (सहार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sātha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), सहार्थक (meaning ‘together/along with’)

• प्रणिपत्य: having bowed down
• प्रणिपत्य: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√nam (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया (prior action)

• मुदा: with joy
• मुदा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mudā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); भाववाचक (abstract noun)

• शिवा: Śivā (Pārvatī)
• शिवा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śivā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• सखीभ्याम्: with (her) two friends
• सखीभ्याम्: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sakhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), द्विवचन (Dual)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• स्मृत्वा: having remembered
• स्मृत्वा: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √smṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया (prior action)

• तपः: austerity, penance
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• तप्तुम्: to perform austerity
• तप्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tap (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive), प्रयोजनार्थ (purpose)

• समुद्गता: went forth, set out
• समुद्गता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ud-√gam (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); गतार्थे (having gone forth)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Models dharmic departure for sādhana: honoring parents (praṇipāta) and carrying Śiva-smṛti into tapas—seen as an ideal preparatory ethic for pilgrimage and vrata.

Mantra Metadata

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights that sincere devotion (smaraṇa—constant remembrance of Śiva) joined with disciplined tapas, done with humility and right conduct (bowing to parents), becomes a purifying path that ripens the soul toward Śiva’s grace.

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

Pārvatī’s remembrance of “Śiva” indicates Saguna upāsanā—holding the personal Lord in heart and mind; such inner worship is the essence behind outward forms like Liṅga-pūjā, where devotion and concentration are primary.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse suggests smaraṇa and tapas: steady meditation on Lord Śiva—practically supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while maintaining disciplined vows and purity during austerity.