Shloka 36
Jaṭilāvatāra-Parīkṣā: Pārvatyāḥ Tapasāṃ Parīkṣaṇam
The Jaṭilā Episode and the Testing of Pārvatī’s Austerity
नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा च पुना रुद्रो ब्रह्मचारिस्वरूपवान् । निनिन्द बहुधात्मानं तदग्रे तां परीक्षितुम्
nandīśvara uvāca | ityuktvā ca punā rudro brahmacārisvarūpavān | nininda bahudhātmānaṃ tadagre tāṃ parīkṣitum
نندییشور نے کہا—یوں کہہ کر رودر نے برہماچاری کا روپ دھار کر پھر اس کے سامنے اپنے ہی آپ کی کئی طرح سے مذمت کی، تاکہ اس کی آزمائش کرے۔
Nandishvara (Nandi)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Bhikṣāṭana
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: liberating
FAQs
It highlights Śiva’s līlā of testing steadfast devotion: the Lord, though Pati (the supreme), adopts a humble brahmacārin guise and even speaks self-deprecatingly to reveal the devotee’s sincerity beyond outward words and forms.
Saguna Śiva can appear in diverse forms to guide and test seekers; the verse teaches that true worship—whether of the Liṅga or a manifest form—rests on unwavering bhakti and discernment, not on being swayed by discouraging speech or appearances.
The takeaway is inner discipline (brahmacarya-like restraint) and steadiness in japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—maintaining devotion even when the mind is tested by doubt or negativity.