as his consort and submitted (i.e. surrendered) himself to Girija (Parvati). The Lord
talked with her in a pleasant and sweet voice. (Chanda no. 5)
[Note—^1 How did Shiva come to know that Parvati had done Tapa to attain him?
Well, it is written in Ram Charit Manas, Baal Kand, from Chaupai line no. 5 that
precedes Doha no. 76—to Chaupai line no. 7 that precedes Doha no. 77 that says, in
brief, that when Shiva was lost in deep meditation, Lord Ram, the Lord whom Shiva
adored as his only deity and God, appeared before him and told him about Parvati’s
severe Tapa with the avowed aim of marrying Shiva. Lord Ram requested Shiva to
honour her wishes. Shiva replied that though it is not proper for him to do so as he is
a renunciate and an ascetic, but nevertheless it is also not possible for him to refuse
the request made personally by Lord Ram whom he adores so much. So, inspite of its
impropriety, Shiva agreed to accept Lord Ram’s instructions and marry Parvati.^
When Lord Shiva came to know that Parvati has done severe Tapa with a vow to
marry him, the Lord wished to judge her first-hand himself. So he disguised himself
as a Brahmin boy and approached her to observe her daily life and test her sincerity
and purity of heart. After all, Lord Shiva must make sure about the integrity and
cleanliness of the person he will be marrying.
Whereas here in Parvati Mangal it is said that Shiva went to test Parvati’s
integrity personally, in Ram Charit Manas a different version is given where Lord
Shiva had sent the seven celestial sages, known as the Sapta Rishis, to do the job for
him. Refer: Ram Charit Manas, Baal Kand, from Chaupai line no. 8 that precedes
Doha no. 77—to Chaupai line no. 3 that precedes Doha no. 82.]
nsf[k nlk d#ukdj gj nq[k ik;mA
eksj dBksj lqHkk; ân;¡ vl vk;mAA41AA
cal çlafl ekrq firq dfg lc yk;dA
vfe; cpuq cVq cksysm vfr lq[k nk;dAA42AA
dēkhi dasā karunākara hara dukha pāya'u.
mōra kaṭhōra subhāya hṛdayam̐ asa āya'u. 41.
bansa prasansi mātu pitu kahi saba lāyaka.
amiya bacanu baṭu bōlē'u ati sukha dāyaka. 42.
41-42. Watching her (miserable and pathetic) condition, the compassionate Har
(Shiva) was moved, and he felt very sorrowful and developed sympathy for her. He
thought to himself that he is very stern in his temperament that he forced Parvati to
undergo such hardship because he had spurned her and rejected her services and
prayers, and left her alone when he went to an undisclosed destination after burning
Kamdeo. This left Parvati with little choice but to do severe Tapa in order to access
him once again. The Lord regretted his decision, and thought to himself that he should
have taken into consideration the love and honesty of Parvati before neglecting her
prayers and serviced on the earlier occasion. [Refer verse nos. 22—34 above. He
regretted at his stern vows of renunciation that forces his devoted followers to suffer
such hardship in order to please him.] (41)
The Batu (i.e. Lord Shiva disguised as a young celibate Brahmin) first praised
the family of Parvati and said that her parents were very honourable and praise-
worthy in all respects. Then he said to her most sweetly—^1 (42)
[Note—^1 Refer Chanda no. 5 above.]