Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 6

गिरिजातपः-परीक्षा तथा सप्तर्षि-आह्वानम्

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

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । गिरिजा हि तदा तात तताप परमं तपः । तपसा तेन रुद्रोऽपि परं विस्मयमागतः

Transliteration

brahmovāca | girijā hi tadā tāta tatāpa paramaṃ tapaḥ | tapasā tena rudro'pi paraṃ vismayamāgataḥ

Translation

Wika ni Brahmā: O minamahal kong anak, noon ay isinagawa ni Girijā (Pārvatī) ang pinakamataas na tapas, ang banal na pag-aayuno at pagninilay. Sa lakas ng tapas na iyon, maging si Rudra (Śiva) ay napuno ng malalim na pagkamangha.

Word by Word

• brahmā: Brahmā
• brahmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वक्ता

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• girijā: Girijā (Pārvatī)
• girijā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: girijā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• tāta: O dear one / O son
• tāta: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• tatāpa: performed austerity / did penance
• tatāpa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tap (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• paramam: supreme
• paramam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (tapaḥ)

• tapaḥ: austerity
• tapaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म) एकवचन; क्रियाविशेष्य

• tapasā: by austerity
• tapasā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• tena: by that
• tena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘by that/thereby’

• rudraḥ: Rudra
• rudraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; ‘also/even’

• paramam: great
• paramam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (vismayam)

• vismayam: astonishment
• vismayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vismaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• āgataḥ: attained / came to
• āgataḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-gam (धातु) + kta (क्त) → āgata (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (Past Participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘having come/attained’

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the transformative potency of sincere tapas—disciplined devotion that purifies the bound soul (paśu) and prepares it to receive Śiva’s grace (anugraha). Pārvatī’s steadfast austerity becomes the model of unwavering spiritual resolve aligned with dharma.

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

Rudra’s “wonder” indicates that devoted practice can draw the attention of Saguna Śiva—the approachable Lord who responds to bhakti and vrata. In Shiva Purana practice, such devotion is commonly expressed through Linga worship with mantra, purity, and disciplined observances.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied takeaway is vrata and tapas supported by japa—especially the Panchākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya")—along with simple discipline such as purity, restraint, and steady meditation on Śiva (Rudra) as the chosen deity.