Shloka 20

गिरिजातपः-परीक्षा तथा सप्तर्षि-आह्वानम्

Girijā’s Austerity-Test and the Summoning of the Seven Sages

Devanagari script

हृदा प्रणम्य तां ते तु ऋषयस्सप्त सुव्रताः । सन्नता वचनं प्रोचुः पूजिताश्च विशेषतः

Transliteration

hṛdā praṇamya tāṃ te tu ṛṣayassapta suvratāḥ | sannatā vacanaṃ procuḥ pūjitāśca viśeṣataḥ

Translation

ครั้งนั้น ฤๅษีทั้งเจ็ดผู้ทรงพรตอันงาม น้อมนมัสการนางด้วยใจจริงอย่างอ่อนน้อม ครั้นได้รับการบูชาเป็นพิเศษแล้ว จึงกล่าวถ้อยคำดังนี้

Word by Word

• हृदा: with (their) heart
• हृदा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया (instrumental), एकवचन (singular)

• प्रणम्य: having bowed
• प्रणम्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal), ‘having bowed’

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन (singular)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (nominative), बहुवचन (plural)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (contrastive particle)

• ऋषयः: sages
• ऋषयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (nominative), बहुवचन (plural)

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या (numeral), प्रथमा (nominative), बहुवचनार्थे; विशेषण to 'ऋषयः'

• सुव्रताः: of good vows
• सुव्रताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (nominative), बहुवचन (plural); विशेषण to 'ऋषयः'

• सन्नताः: bowed down/humbled
• सन्नताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-नम् (धातु) → सन्नत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (nominative), बहुवचन (plural); विशेषण to 'ऋषयः'

• वचनम्: words/speech
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन (singular)

• प्रोचुः: said/uttered
• प्रोचुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-उच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (plural)

• पूजिताः: honoured/worshipped
• पूजिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूज् (धातु) → पूजित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (nominative), बहुवचन (plural); विशेषण to 'ऋषयः'

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

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्यर्थक/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the episode to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Pārvatī
• Seven sages (Saptaṛṣi)

FAQs

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

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.

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

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.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

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).