Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 36

काली-परिचयः / Himagiri Presents Kālī (Pārvatī) to Śiva

Devanagari script

तपस्विनोक्तं वचनं निशम्य तथा गिरीशं चकितं विचार्य्य । अतः प्रणम्यैव शिवं भवानी जगाद वाक्यं विशदन्तदानीम्

Transliteration

tapasvinoktaṃ vacanaṃ niśamya tathā girīśaṃ cakitaṃ vicāryya | ataḥ praṇamyaiva śivaṃ bhavānī jagāda vākyaṃ viśadantadānīm

Translation

听闻苦行者之言，又略带惊异地思量吉利沙（湿婆）之后，婆伐尼便向湿婆顶礼；就在那一刻，她以清明之意开口陈词。

Word by Word

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

• उक्तम्: spoken
• उक्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचन (contextually agreeing with वचनम्); धातु—वच्: ‘spoken’

• वचनम्: speech; statement
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• निशम्य: having heard
• निशम्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शम्/शम (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; धातु—शम् (to become quiet) in causative sense ‘to listen/notice’ with नि-: ‘having heard/considered’

• तथा: also; likewise
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: likewise/also)

• गिरीशम्: Giriśa (Śiva)
• गिरीशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरीश (प्रातिपदिक; गिरि + ईश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• चकितम्: astonished
• चकितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चकित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (agreeing with गिरीशम्)

• विचार्य: having considered
• विचार्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; धातु—चर् with वि-: ‘having reflected/considered’

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, हेत्वर्थक/तस्मात्-अर्थ (therefore/from that)

• प्रणम्य: having bowed
• प्रणम्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; धातु—नम् with प्र-: ‘having bowed’

• एव: indeed; just
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• जगाद: said
• जगाद: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; धातु—गद् (to speak): ‘said’

• वाक्यम्: a statement
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विशदत्: clear
• विशदत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (agreeing with वाक्यम्): clear

• तदानीम्: then; at that time
• तदानीम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदानीम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक (temporal adverb: then/at that time)

Speaker

Bhavānī (Pārvatī)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva Siddhanta mood of reverent approach: after hearing guidance and reflecting, the devotee (Bhavani) first offers pranama to Shiva and then speaks—showing humility, clarity, and alignment with dharma before action or speech.

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

The verse emphasizes direct reverence to Girisha/Shiva as the gracious, approachable Saguna Lord. Such bowing (pranama) is the inner attitude behind Linga worship—honoring Shiva as Pati (Lord) before seeking instruction, boons, or spiritual resolution.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to begin any Shiva sadhana with pranama and mental recollection (vicara): offer salutations, steady the mind, then speak/chant with clarity—such as reciting “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a composed intention.