Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 23
गिरिजाया तपोऽनुज्ञा
Permission for Girijā’s Austerities
स्त्रीणां तपोवनगतिर्न श्रुता कामनार्थिनी । तस्मात्त्वं पुत्रि मा कार्षीस्तपोर्थं गमनं प्रति
strīṇāṃ tapovanagatirna śrutā kāmanārthinī | tasmāttvaṃ putri mā kārṣīstaporthaṃ gamanaṃ prati
Một thiếu nữ bị dục vọng thúc đẩy thì không hề được nghe là đi đến rừng đạo viện để tu khổ hạnh. Vì thế, hỡi con gái, chớ hướng tâm vào việc ra đi chỉ vì tapas.
Himālaya (Parvatī’s father)
Tattva Level: pashu
Sthala Purana: Not a jyotirliṅga narrative; it voices social convention: a desire-motivated maiden is ‘not heard of’ going to tapovana—setting up the contrast with Pārvatī’s supra-worldly intent.
Significance: Functions as a moral foil: tapas must be purified of kāmya-motives; true Śiva-oriented tapas culminates in anugraha.
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: liberating
FAQs
It stresses that tapas must be undertaken with purified intention, not driven by restless desire; in Shaiva understanding, right motive prepares the soul (paśu) to approach Śiva (Pati) through disciplined dharma.
It frames devotion as inwardly regulated: rather than impulsive outward acts, one should cultivate steadiness and propriety before approaching Saguna Shiva in worship—making the heart fit for Linga-sevā and prayer.
The implied takeaway is restraint and sankalpa-śuddhi: begin with regular japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and simple, disciplined worship at home, instead of rashly seeking extreme austerities.