Shloka 64

Jaṭilāvatāra-Parīkṣā: Pārvatyāḥ Tapasāṃ Parīkṣaṇam

The Jaṭilā Episode and the Testing of Pārvatī’s Austerity

Devanagari script

इति प्रोक्तस्तु ते तात ब्रह्मचारि स्वरूपकः । शिवावतारो हि मया शिवाभावपरीक्षकः

Transliteration

iti proktastu te tāta brahmacāri svarūpakaḥ | śivāvatāro hi mayā śivābhāvaparīkṣakaḥ

Translation

ప్రియ బిడ్డా, బ్రహ్మచారి స్వరూపమును గురించి నేను నీకు చెప్పాను. అతడు నా ద్వారా ధరించబడిన శివావతారం; నిజమైన శివభావాన్ని పరీక్షించువాడు.

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उद्धरण-सूचक

• proktaḥ: was said
• proktaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tu: indeed, but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विरोध/अन्वय-बोधक

• te: of you / your
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• tāta: dear father / dear one
• tāta: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• brahmacāri: a celibate student (brahmacārin)
• brahmacāri: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahmacārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; इकारान्त-प्रातिपदिक (i-stem)

• svarūpakaḥ: having such a form / of that appearance
• svarūpakaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svarūpaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective)

• śivāvatāraḥ: incarnation of Śiva
• śivāvatāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + avatāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: शिवस्य अवतारः

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निश्चय-बोधक

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• śivābhāvaparīkṣakaḥ: examiner of Śiva’s (state/nature)
• śivābhāvaparīkṣakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + abhāva (प्रातिपदिक) + parīkṣaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (बहुपद): शिवस्य अभावस्य परीक्षकः / ‘tester of (the presence/absence of) Śiva(-nature)’

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not tied to a Jyotirliṅga; it explains a didactic avatāra (Brahmacārī) used to test inner Śiva-bhāva.

Significance: Frames the spiritual criterion of ‘śiva-bhāva’ (true orientation to Śiva) as the measure of worthiness; encourages self-examination and humility before the guru-principle.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva may appear in an ascetic, humble guise to examine whether devotion is genuine—rooted in śiva-bhāva (inner alignment to Śiva) rather than outward status or appearances.

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

By highlighting an avatāra with a recognizable form, the verse supports Saguna worship: devotees learn to honor Śiva’s presence whether in the Liṅga or in embodied manifestations meant to guide and test bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate śiva-bhāva through steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and disciplined conduct (brahmacarya/inner restraint), so devotion remains constant even when tested.