Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 40

पार्वत्याः तपः-परीक्षा (Śiva Tests Pārvatī’s Austerity)

Devanagari script

मत्सखी नारदोपदेशात्तपस्तपति दारुणम् । मनोरथः कुतस्तस्या न फलिष्यति तापस

Transliteration

matsakhī nāradopadeśāttapastapati dāruṇam | manorathaḥ kutastasyā na phaliṣyati tāpasa

Translation

噢，苦行者啊，我的女伴——承受那罗陀的教诲——正在修行严厉的苦行。她心中所珍爱的愿望，怎会不结成果报？

Word by Word

• मत्-सखी: my friend (female)
• मत्-सखी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् (अस्मद्-प्रातिपदिक) + सखी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘मम सखी’

• नारद-उपदेशात्: from Nārada’s instruction
• नारद-उपदेशात्: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक) + उपदेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘नारदस्य उपदेशः’

• तपः: austerity; penance
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तपति: performs penance; practices austerity
• तपति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• दारुणम्: severe; harsh
• दारुणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘तपः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• मनोरथः: wish; desire
• मनोरथः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनोरथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कुतः: how; from where (could it fail)
• कुतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Interrogative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कुतः (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb: whence/how)

• तस्याः: of her
• तस्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

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

• फलिष्यति: will bear fruit; will succeed
• फलिष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: फल् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• तापस: O ascetic
• तापस: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तापस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

Speaker

Parvati (as the princess/maiden speaking to a tapasvin/ascetic in the Parvati Khanda narrative)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse affirms a key Shaiva principle: when resolve is purified by guru-guidance (here, Nārada) and strengthened through sincere tapas, the intention aligned with dharma inevitably matures into fulfillment by Shiva’s grace.

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

Parvati’s severe tapas is the inner form of worship—steadfast devotion to Saguna Shiva (the personal Lord) that culminates in divine acceptance. In Shaiva practice, such tapas is often paired with Shiva-upāsanā through linga-pūjā, japa, and vrata, expressing the same unwavering intent.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to disciplined tapas supported by mantra-japa and vows: regular repetition of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), observance of purity and restraint, and focused meditation on Shiva—practices especially emphasized in Mahāśivarātri-style vrata.