Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 15

सत्यप्रतिज्ञा-तपःसंवादः

Pārvatī’s Vow of Truth and the Dialogue on Her Tapas

Devanagari script

केन कारणेन त्वं तं भर्तारं समीहसे । क्व ज्ञानं ते गतं देवि तद्वदाद्य विचारतः

Transliteration

kena kāraṇena tvaṃ taṃ bhartāraṃ samīhase | kva jñānaṃ te gataṃ devi tadvadādya vicārataḥ

Translation

因何缘故，女神啊，你竟求那位夫主？你的明辨之智去了何处？今当细思之后，如实道来。

Word by Word

• केन: by what?
• केन: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (प्रयोगे), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम

• कारणेन: by reason, because of (as cause)
• कारणेन: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुषार्थे, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• भर्तारम्: husband, protector
• भर्तारम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• समीहसे: you desire/seek
• समीहसे: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+ईह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• क्व: where?
• क्व: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्व (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रश्नवाचक देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (interrogative adverb of place)

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ते: your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• गतम्: gone, departed
• गतम्: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/त participle) ‘गत’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘ज्ञानम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• देवि: O goddess
• देवि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• तद्वत्: thus, in that manner
• तद्वत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्वत् (अव्यय/तद्धित)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक (like that/thus)

• आद्य: today/now
• आद्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (temporal adverb) ‘today/now’ (अद्य)

• विचारतः: upon reflection, considering
• विचारतः: Hetu (हेतु/Reason)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb) = ‘from/according to consideration’

• वद: tell (speak)
• वद: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Himavat (Himalaya, father of Parvati)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights the need for viveka (discernment) in devotion: the aspirant must examine motives and choose the Supreme Pati—Shiva—with clear understanding rather than impulse.

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

By questioning Parvati’s choice, the narrative sets the ground for establishing why Shiva—worshipped as Saguna (with form) and as the Linga (transcendent sign)—is the highest refuge and rightful object of unwavering bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is reflective japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with sankalpa (clear intention), strengthening devotion through contemplation before undertaking vrata, puja, or austerities.