Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 43

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

Devanagari script

जटिल उवाच । सख्येदं कथितं तत्र परिहासोनुमीयते । यथार्थं चेत्तदा देवी स्वमुखेनाभिभाषताम्

Transliteration

jaṭila uvāca | sakhyedaṃ kathitaṃ tatra parihāsonumīyate | yathārthaṃ cettadā devī svamukhenābhibhāṣatām

Translation

结发者说道：“朋友啊，从这里所说看来，似乎只是戏言；但若确有其事，就让女神亲口自述。”

Word by Word

• जटिलः: Jaṭila (the ascetic)
• जटिलः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जटिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• सखि: O friend
• सखि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सखि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd; Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• कथितम्: (has been) told
• कथितम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘said/told’

• तत्र: there/in that matter
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, स्थानवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• परिहासः: a jest/mockery
• परिहासः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिहास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• अनुमीयते: is inferred
• अनुमीयते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + मा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive)

• यथार्थम्: truthfully/as it really is
• यथार्थम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथार्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• चेत्: if
• चेत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, शर्तार्थक निपात (conditional particle ‘if’)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• देवी: the Goddess
• देवी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• स्वमुखेन: with her own mouth
• स्वमुखेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्वस्य मुखम्)

• अभिभाषताम्: let her speak/address
• अभिभाषताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + भाष् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; आज्ञार्थ (injunctive request)

Speaker

Jaṭila

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhikṣāṭana

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

It highlights discernment (viveka): sacred claims should be verified through direct truth, and the Goddess’ own word is treated as authoritative śakti—truth that removes doubt and steadies devotion.

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

By insisting on the Goddess’ direct declaration, the verse reinforces the Shaiva Purana’s emphasis on saguna revelation—devotees rely on the manifest divine (Śiva-Śakti) speaking and acting within the world to guide faith and right understanding.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

No specific rite is prescribed; the takeaway is to ground practice in सत्य (truth) and śraddhā—approach mantra-japa (e.g., “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and worship with sincerity, avoiding superstition or mockery.