Shloka 1

प्रकृतितत्त्व-विचारः / Inquiry into Prakṛti (Nature/Śakti) and Śiva’s Transcendence

Devanagari script

भवान्युवाच । किमुक्तं गिरिराजाय त्वया योगिस्तपस्विना । तदुत्तरं शृणु विभो मत्तो ज्ञानिविशारद

Transliteration

bhavānyuvāca | kimuktaṃ girirājāya tvayā yogistapasvinā | taduttaraṃ śṛṇu vibho matto jñāniviśārada

Translation

بھوانی نے کہا—اے یوگی تپسوی! تم نے گِری راج سے کیا کہا تھا؟ اے وِبھُو، معرفت و تمیز میں ماہر! اب میری طرف سے وہ جواب سنو۔

Word by Word

• भवानी: Bhavānī
• भवानी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवानी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम (interrogative)

• उक्तम्: said
• उक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘said/spoken’

• गिरिराजाय: to Girirāja (Himālaya)
• गिरिराजाय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरिराज (प्रातिपदिक; गिरि + राज)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी विभक्ति (Dative/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (king of mountains)

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karaṇa/Karta (करण/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन; 2nd person pronoun

• योगिना: by the yogin
• योगिना: Karaṇa/Karta (करण/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तपस्विना: by the ascetic
• तपस्विना: Karaṇa/Karta (करण/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• उत्तरम्: answer; reply
• उत्तरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शृणु: hear; listen
• शृणु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• विभो: O mighty one
• विभो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• मत्तः: from me
• मत्तः: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन; 1st person pronoun

• ज्ञानिविशारद: O expert among the wise
• ज्ञानिविशारद: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञानिविशारद (प्रातिपदिक; ज्ञानी + विशारद)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (jñāni-viśārada = skilled among the wise/knowers)

Speaker

Bhavānī (Pārvatī)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Girirāja (Himālaya)

FAQs

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

It frames a transmission of sacred knowledge: Pārvatī prompts the recounting of a yogin’s words, indicating that Shiva-tattva is approached through disciplined tapas, yoga, and refined discernment (jñāna) under proper dialogue and instruction.

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

Though the Liṅga is not named here, the verse sets the narrative tone typical of the Rudra Saṃhitā: teachings about Shiva are conveyed through revered conversation. Such dialogue commonly culminates in Saguna Shiva upāsanā—devotion expressed through mantra, pūjā, and Liṅga-worship—supported by inner yoga and understanding.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse points to yoga and tapas as the core discipline—steady meditation, restraint, and contemplative listening (śravaṇa). As a Shaiva takeaway, this is typically paired with mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) as the practical means to internalize the teaching.