Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 29
गिरिजातपः-परीक्षा तथा सप्तर्षि-आह्वानम्
Girijā’s Austerity-Test and the Summoning of the Seven Sages
ऋषय ऊचुः । न ज्ञातं तस्य चरितं वृथापण्डितमानिनः । देवर्षेः कूरमनसः सुज्ञा भूत्वाप्यगात्मजे
ṛṣaya ūcuḥ | na jñātaṃ tasya caritaṃ vṛthāpaṇḍitamāninaḥ | devarṣeḥ kūramanasaḥ sujñā bhūtvāpyagātmaje
ரிஷிகள் கூறினர்—மலையரசி கீரிஜையே! நன்கு அறிந்தவளாயிருந்தும் அந்த தேவ ரிஷியின் உண்மையான நடத்தையை நீ உணரவில்லை. அவர் மந்தபுத்தியுடையவர்; ஆயினும் வீணாகத் தன்னைப் பெரிய பண்டிதன் என எண்ணுகிறார்.
The sages (Ṛṣis), addressing Pārvatī
Tattva Level: pashu
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: teaching
FAQs
It warns that mere intellectual pride (pāṇḍitya-māna) can veil true understanding; Shaiva teaching emphasizes humility and discernment as prerequisites for devotion to Pati (Shiva) and liberation.
Linga-worship and Saguna Shiva devotion are meant to dissolve ego, not inflate it; the verse critiques false scholarship and points to sincere bhakti as the correct inner posture for Shiva-upāsanā.
Adopt humility while doing japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and worship with bhasma/rudrākṣa as aids—using practice to reduce pride and align the mind with Shiva.