Shloka 16

Jaṭilāvatāra-Parīkṣā: Pārvatyāḥ Tapasāṃ Parīkṣaṇam

The Jaṭilā Episode and the Testing of Pārvatī’s Austerity

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मचारिस्वरूपेण कस्त्वं हि कुत आगतः । इद्ं वनं भासयसि वद वेदविदां वर

Transliteration

brahmacārisvarūpeṇa kastvaṃ hi kuta āgataḥ | idṃ vanaṃ bhāsayasi vada vedavidāṃ vara

Translation

你以梵行者之形而来，究竟是谁，从何处而至？你照亮了这片森林——请开示吧，噢，诸吠陀知者中最胜者。

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मचारि-स्वरूपेण: in the form of a brahmacārin
• ब्रह्मचारि-स्वरूपेण: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument or manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचारिन् (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास ('in the form of a brahmacārin')

• कः: who
• कः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• हि: indeed
• हि: Nipāta (निपात/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• कुतः: from where
• कुतः: Apādāna (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कुतः (अव्यय/प्रश्न-अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नवाचक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• आगतः: has come
• आगतः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+गम् (धातु) → आगत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participle) used predicatively

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषण

• वनम्: forest
• वनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भासयसि: you illumine
• भासयसि: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भास् (धातु) (causative/णिच्)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative: 'make shine/illumine')

• वद: tell, speak
• वद: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वेदविदाम्: of the Veda-knowers
• वेदविदाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + विद् (धातु) → विद् (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक: विद्/विद्वस्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास ('of the knowers of the Veda')

• वर: O best (one)
• वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

An inquiring sage/forest-dweller addressing a radiant brahmacārin-form of Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights discernment (viveka) and reverent inquiry: the seeker recognizes an extraordinary, luminous presence and asks for true identity—an essential step before Shiva’s grace reveals the higher truth of Pati (Shiva) beyond ordinary appearances.

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

Shiva is approached here in a saguna, approachable guise (a brahmacārin), showing that the Divine can be encountered through form for the sake of devotees. This mirrors linga-worship where the formless (nirguṇa) is honored through a sacred, perceivable support (liṅga) that draws the mind to Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is contemplative reverence: approach Shiva with humility, purity, and questioning. In practice, one may combine japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with inner stillness, seeing divine light (tejas) as a sign to turn the mind toward Shiva.