Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 57

गिरिजातपः-परीक्षा तथा सप्तर्षि-आह्वानम्

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

Devanagari script

स्वतनोः शैलजातत्वात्काठिन्यं सहजं स्थितम् । इत्थं विचार्य सुधिया मां निषेद्धुं न चार्हथ

Transliteration

svatanoḥ śailajātatvātkāṭhinyaṃ sahajaṃ sthitam | itthaṃ vicārya sudhiyā māṃ niṣeddhuṃ na cārhatha

Translation

因我此身出自山岳，坚韧与忍耐本就天性安住于我。故而，诸位以慧思量之后，不应阻拦或禁止我守持此志。

Word by Word

• स्वतनोः: of the fair-bodied one
• स्वतनोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु-तनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; Genitive Singular

• शैल-जातत्वात्: because of being mountain-born
• शैल-जातत्वात्: Hetu/Apādāna (अपादान/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैल (प्रातिपदिक) + जातत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; Ablative Singular; हेतौ (cause)

• काठिन्यम्: hardness
• काठिन्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काठिन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; Nominative/Accusative Singular

• सहजम्: innate
• सहजम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; agrees with काठिन्यम्

• स्थितम्: is established/has remained
• स्थितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; agrees with काठिन्यम्

• इत्थम्: thus
• इत्थम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इत्थम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; manner-adverb (प्रकारवाचक)

• विचार्य: having reflected
• विचार्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वि-चर् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभावरूप (gerund/absolutive), ‘having considered’

• सुधिया: with good understanding
• सुधिया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु-धी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; Instrumental Singular

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; Accusative Singular

• निषेद्धुम्: to restrain/forbid
• निषेद्धुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-षिध् (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), ‘to forbid/prevent’

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अर्हथ: you ought/are fit
• अर्हथ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन; ‘you (pl.) are fit/ought’

Speaker

Parvati

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

It highlights Pārvatī’s innate steadfastness (dhairya) and her right to pursue tapas for Śiva, teaching that sincere resolve grounded in wisdom should not be obstructed on the path to divine grace.

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

Pārvatī’s firmness supports the Shaiva teaching that Saguna worship—approaching Śiva with form through devotion, vows, and disciplined practice—ripens the soul for Śiva’s compassion and eventual union with the Supreme.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse implies steadfast tapas and vow-keeping; practically, it aligns with steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined observances (vrata) without wavering.