Shloka 20
गिरिजातपः-परीक्षा तथा सप्तर्षि-आह्वानम्
Girijā’s Austerity-Test and the Summoning of the Seven Sages
हृदा प्रणम्य तां ते तु ऋषयस्सप्त सुव्रताः । सन्नता वचनं प्रोचुः पूजिताश्च विशेषतः
hṛdā praṇamya tāṃ te tu ṛṣayassapta suvratāḥ | sannatā vacanaṃ procuḥ pūjitāśca viśeṣataḥ
அப்போது நற்கடமையுடைய அந்த ஏழு ரிஷிகள் மனமார அவளுக்கு வணங்கி பணிவுடன் நின்றனர். சிறப்பாகப் பூஜிக்கப்பட்ட பின் இவ்வார்த்தைகளைச் சொன்னார்கள்.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the episode to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: teaching
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It highlights that true approach to the Divine—here, Pārvatī—is not merely formal but heartfelt (hṛdā). Humility and disciplined conduct (suvrata) make one fit to receive grace and speak rightly in sacred dialogue.
In the Shaiva Purana’s saguna-bhakti framework, honoring Pārvatī is inseparable from honoring Śiva; reverent conduct and inner bowing are foundational attitudes for Linga worship and all forms of devotional service.
The verse points to an inner practice: heartfelt pranāma and humble speech before the deity. As a takeaway, one may begin worship with mental prostration (mānasa-namaskāra) and respectful recitation of Śiva mantras such as the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya).