Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 7

पार्वत्याः यात्रासंस्कारः तथा पातिव्रत्योपदेशः / Preparations for Girijā’s Auspicious Journey and the Teaching on Pātivratya

Devanagari script

मेनामनोगम्बुद्ध्वा साध्व्येका द्विजकामिनी । गिरिजां शिक्षयामास पातिव्रत्यव्रतम्परम्

Transliteration

menāmanogambuddhvā sādhvyekā dvijakāminī | girijāṃ śikṣayāmāsa pātivratyavratamparam

Translation

洞悉梅那高贵而恳切的心意后，那位贤淑之女——关怀二次生者之福祉——便开始教导吉丽迦关于对夫至诚守贞的至上誓戒（pātivratya）。

Word by Word

• मेनाम्: Menā
• मेनाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अनुगम्: having approached/followed
• अनुगम्: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive)

• बुद्ध्वा: having understood
• बुद्ध्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बुध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

• साध्वी: the virtuous lady
• साध्वी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साध्वी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणरूपेण (virtuous woman)

• एका: one
• एका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक विशेषण

• द्विजकामिनी: the brahmin's wife
• द्विजकामिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज- कामिनी (प्रातिपदिक; द्विज + कामिनी)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (द्विजस्य कामिनी = brahmin's wife)

• गिरिजाम्: Girijā (Pārvatī)
• गिरिजाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरिजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शिक्षयामास: taught/instructed
• शिक्षयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शिक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative sense: caused to learn/taught)

• पातिव्रत्यव्रतम्: the vow of wifely fidelity
• पातिव्रत्यव्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पातिव्रत्य-व्रत (प्रातिपदिक; पातिव्रत्य + व्रत)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पातिव्रत्यस्य व्रतम्)

• परम्: supreme/excellent
• परम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (व्रतम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Parvati Khanda account to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Mena

FAQs

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

It presents pātivratya as a disciplined, dharmic form of devotion that purifies the mind and steadies one’s resolve—supporting Pārvatī’s larger spiritual destiny of union with Lord Shiva through steadfast virtue and tapas.

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

In the Pārvatīkhaṇḍa narrative, right conduct and inner purity are shown as supportive foundations for devotion to Saguna Shiva; Pārvatī’s dharma-oriented training matures into single-pointed bhakti and austerity that culminate in attaining Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse emphasizes vrata (vowed discipline). Practically, it implies adopting regular dharmic observances—such as vrata, japa, and purity of conduct—often paired in Shaiva practice with Panchākṣarī japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") as one’s steady daily devotion.