Parvati Shlokas in Sanskrit With Meaning: Bio, WhatsApp Status and Shakti Mantras
Parvati is often pictured as the gentle wife at Shiva's side. The texts give her far more steel than that. Kalidasa's Kumarasambhava shows a girl who sits between four fires under the summer sun, gives up even fallen leaves as food, and tells Shiva himself — in disguise, mocking Shiva — to stop talking. The Devi Mahatmya goes further: the warrior goddess who takes on the demon armies steps out of Parvati's own body, and Parvati, left behind, turns dark and becomes Kalika. Here are the Parvati shlokas people reach for most for an Instagram bio, a WhatsApp status or a tattoo — each one complete in Sanskrit, never cut in half, with how to read it and its meaning in Hindi and English.
Every shloka comes with its real source and who says it. Some of the most shared "Parvati quotes" are modern; we've marked those near the end.
Parvati Sanskrit shlokas with meaning
The fiercest first. The Shakti verses are from the Devi Mahatmya (chapters 81–93 of the Markandeya Purana; the verse numbers are those of the GRETIL e-text, which differ slightly from the usual chapter-and-verse counts in printed Durga Saptashati). The tapas verses are from canto 5 of the Kumarasambhava by the poet Kalidasa — a classical poem, not scripture, but the most famous telling of how Parvati won Shiva. Use the whole card, or the line that speaks to you.
Parvati as Shakti: the goddess who stepped out of her
यो मां जयति संग्रामे यो मे दर्पं व्यपोहति ।
यो मे प्रतिबलो लोके स मे भर्ता भविष्यति ॥
यो मे प्रतिबलो लोके स मे भर्ता भविष्यति ॥
yo māṃ jayati saṃgrāme yo me darpaṃ vyapohati
yo me pratibalo loke sa me bhartā bhaviṣyati
yo me pratibalo loke sa me bhartā bhaviṣyati
“Whoever defeats me in battle, whoever breaks my pride, whoever is my equal in strength in this world — he shall be my husband.”
जो मुझे युद्ध में जीत ले, जो मेरा अभिमान तोड़ दे, जो संसार में मेरे बराबर बलवान हो — वही मेरा पति होगा।
Devi Mahatmya, ch. 5 (Markandeya Purana 85.72) · Ambika, the goddess who came out of Parvati's body, to the demon Shumbha's messenger
शरीरकोशाद्यत्तस्याः पार्वत्या निःसृताम्बिका ।
कौशिकीति समस्तेषु ततो लोकेषु गीयते ॥
तस्यां विनिर्गतायां तु कृष्णाभूत्सापि पार्वती ।
कालिकेति समाख्याता हिमाचलकृताश्रया ॥
कौशिकीति समस्तेषु ततो लोकेषु गीयते ॥
तस्यां विनिर्गतायां तु कृष्णाभूत्सापि पार्वती ।
कालिकेति समाख्याता हिमाचलकृताश्रया ॥
śarīrakośād yat tasyāḥ pārvatyā niḥsṛtāmbikā
kauśikīti samasteṣu tato lokeṣu gīyate
tasyāṃ vinirgatāyāṃ tu kṛṣṇābhūt sāpi pārvatī
kāliketi samākhyātā himācalakṛtāśrayā
kauśikīti samasteṣu tato lokeṣu gīyate
tasyāṃ vinirgatāyāṃ tu kṛṣṇābhūt sāpi pārvatī
kāliketi samākhyātā himācalakṛtāśrayā
“Because Ambika came out of the sheath of Parvati's body, all the worlds sing of her as Kaushiki. And when she had come out, Parvati herself turned dark, and became known as Kalika, making her home in the Himalaya.”
क्योंकि अम्बिका पार्वती के शरीर-कोश से निकलीं, इसलिए सब लोकों में वे कौशिकी नाम से गाई जाती हैं। उनके निकल जाने पर वह पार्वती स्वयं काली पड़ गईं और हिमालय पर निवास करने वाली ‘कालिका’ कहलाईं।
Devi Mahatmya, ch. 5 (Markandeya Purana 85.43–44) · the sage Medhas, telling the story
Parvati's own words, from Kalidasa
निवार्यतामालि किमप्ययं बटुः पुनर्विवक्षुः स्फुरितोत्तराधरः ।
न केवलं यो महतोऽपभाषते शृणोति तस्मादपि यः स पापभाक् ॥
न केवलं यो महतोऽपभाषते शृणोति तस्मादपि यः स पापभाक् ॥
nivāryatām āli kim apy ayaṃ baṭuḥ punar vivakṣuḥ sphuritottarādharaḥ
na kevalaṃ yo mahato 'pabhāṣate śṛṇoti tasmād api yaḥ sa pāpabhāk
na kevalaṃ yo mahato 'pabhāṣate śṛṇoti tasmād api yaḥ sa pāpabhāk
“Stop him, friend — this boy wants to speak again; his lip is trembling. Not only the one who speaks ill of the great, but the one who listens to him too, shares in the sin.”
सखी, इस बटुक को रोको — यह फिर कुछ बोलना चाहता है, इसके होंठ फड़क रहे हैं। केवल वही पापी नहीं होता जो महान की निंदा करता है, बल्कि वह भी पाप का भागी होता है जो उसे सुनता है।
Kumarasambhava 5.83 · Kalidasa · Parvati, when a disguised Shiva mocks Shiva to her face
अलं विवादेन यथा श्रुतस्त्वया तथाविधस्तावदशेषमस्तु सः ।
ममात्र भावैकरसं मनः स्थितं न कामवृत्तिर्वचनीयमीक्षते ॥
ममात्र भावैकरसं मनः स्थितं न कामवृत्तिर्वचनीयमीक्षते ॥
alaṃ vivādena yathā śrutas tvayā tathāvidhas tāvad aśeṣam astu saḥ
mamātra bhāvaikarasaṃ manaḥ sthitaṃ na kāmavṛttir vacanīyam īkṣate
mamātra bhāvaikarasaṃ manaḥ sthitaṃ na kāmavṛttir vacanīyam īkṣate
“Enough of arguing. Let him be everything you have heard. My heart is fixed on him with one feeling only — and a heart that loves does not look at what people say.”
बहस बहुत हुई। तुमने उनके बारे में जैसा सुना है, वे वैसे ही सही। मेरा मन तो एक ही भाव से उन्हीं में स्थिर है — और प्रेम करने वाला मन लोकनिंदा की परवाह नहीं करता।
Kumarasambhava 5.82 · Kalidasa · Parvati to the disguised Shiva
अकिञ्चनः सन्प्रभवः स संपदां त्रिलोकनाथः पितृसद्मगोचरः ।
स भीमरूपः शिव इत्युदीर्यते न सन्ति याथार्थ्यविदः पिनाकिनः ॥
स भीमरूपः शिव इत्युदीर्यते न सन्ति याथार्थ्यविदः पिनाकिनः ॥
akiñcanaḥ san prabhavaḥ sa saṃpadāṃ trilokanāthaḥ pitṛsadmagocaraḥ
sa bhīmarūpaḥ śiva ity udīryate na santi yāthārthyavidaḥ pinākinaḥ
sa bhīmarūpaḥ śiva ity udīryate na santi yāthārthyavidaḥ pinākinaḥ
“He owns nothing, yet he is the source of all wealth; lord of the three worlds, he haunts the cremation ground; terrible in form, he is called Shiva — the auspicious. No one knows the Pinaka-bearer as he truly is.”
वे अकिंचन होकर भी सब सम्पदाओं के स्रोत हैं; तीनों लोकों के स्वामी होकर भी श्मशान में विचरते हैं; भयंकर रूप वाले होकर भी ‘शिव’ (कल्याणकारी) कहलाते हैं। पिनाकधारी को यथार्थ में कोई नहीं जानता।
Kumarasambhava 5.77 · Kalidasa · Parvati, answering the insults to Shiva
शिवः शक्त्या युक्तो यदि भवति शक्तः प्रभवितुं
न चेदेवं देवो न खलु कुशलः स्पन्दितुमपि ।
अतस्त्वामाराध्यां हरिहरविरिञ्चादिभिरपि
प्रणन्तुं स्तोतुं वा कथमकृतपुण्यः प्रभवति ॥
न चेदेवं देवो न खलु कुशलः स्पन्दितुमपि ।
अतस्त्वामाराध्यां हरिहरविरिञ्चादिभिरपि
प्रणन्तुं स्तोतुं वा कथमकृतपुण्यः प्रभवति ॥
śivaḥ śaktyā yukto yadi bhavati śaktaḥ prabhavituṃ
na ced evaṃ devo na khalu kuśalaḥ spanditum api
atas tvām ārādhyāṃ hariharaviriñcādibhir api
praṇantuṃ stotuṃ vā katham akṛtapuṇyaḥ prabhavati
na ced evaṃ devo na khalu kuśalaḥ spanditum api
atas tvām ārādhyāṃ hariharaviriñcādibhir api
praṇantuṃ stotuṃ vā katham akṛtapuṇyaḥ prabhavati
“Only when Shiva is joined with Shakti is he able to create; without her, the god cannot even stir. So how could anyone without merit bow to you or praise you — you whom Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma themselves worship?”
शिव जब शक्ति से युक्त होते हैं, तभी सृष्टि करने में समर्थ होते हैं; नहीं तो वे देव हिल-डुल भी नहीं सकते। इसलिए हे देवी, विष्णु, शिव और ब्रह्मा भी जिनकी आराधना करते हैं, उन्हें प्रणाम या उनकी स्तुति कोई पुण्यहीन कैसे कर सकता है?
Saundarya Lahari, verse 1 · traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya · addressed to the Devi, Shiva's Shakti
The tapas of Parvati
इयेष सा कर्तुमवन्ध्यरूपतां समाधिमास्थाय तपोभिरात्मनः ।
अवाप्यते वा कथमन्यथा द्वयं तथाविधं प्रेम पतिश्च तादृशः ॥
अवाप्यते वा कथमन्यथा द्वयं तथाविधं प्रेम पतिश्च तादृशः ॥
iyeṣa sā kartum avandhyarūpatāṃ samādhim āsthāya tapobhir ātmanaḥ
avāpyate vā katham anyathā dvayaṃ tathāvidhaṃ prema patiś ca tādṛśaḥ
avāpyate vā katham anyathā dvayaṃ tathāvidhaṃ prema patiś ca tādṛśaḥ
“She resolved to make her beauty bear fruit by giving herself to meditation and tapas. How else could anyone win both — such a love, and such a husband?”
उसने समाधि और तप के द्वारा अपने रूप को सफल करने का निश्चय किया। और कोई उपाय भी क्या था — वैसा प्रेम और वैसा पति, दोनों और किस तरह मिलते?
Kumarasambhava 5.2 · Kalidasa · Parvati's decision, after Shiva burns Kama to ash
इति ध्रुवेच्छामनुशासती सुतां शशाक मेना न नियन्तुमुद्यमात् ।
क ईप्सितार्थस्थिरनिश्चयं मनः पयश्च निम्नाभिमुखं प्रतीपयेत् ॥
क ईप्सितार्थस्थिरनिश्चयं मनः पयश्च निम्नाभिमुखं प्रतीपयेत् ॥
iti dhruvecchām anuśāsatī sutāṃ śaśāka menā na niyantum udyamāt
ka īpsitārthasthiraniścayaṃ manaḥ payaś ca nimnābhimukhaṃ pratīpayet
ka īpsitārthasthiraniścayaṃ manaḥ payaś ca nimnābhimukhaṃ pratīpayet
“Mena pleaded with her daughter, but could not hold back a girl whose wish was firm. Who can turn back a mind fixed on what it wants — or water flowing downhill?”
माता मेना ने दृढ़ इच्छा वाली अपनी बेटी को बहुत समझाया, पर उसे उसके संकल्प से रोक न सकीं। अपने लक्ष्य पर अडिग मन को, और नीचे की ओर बहते पानी को, कौन लौटा सकता है?
Kumarasambhava 5.5 · Kalidasa · Parvati's mother Mena tries to stop her
यथा श्रुतं वेदविदां वर त्वया जनोऽयमुच्चैःपदलङ्घनोत्सुकः ।
तपः किलेदं तदवाप्तिसाधनं मनोरथानामगतिर्न विद्यते ॥
तपः किलेदं तदवाप्तिसाधनं मनोरथानामगतिर्न विद्यते ॥
yathā śrutaṃ vedavidāṃ vara tvayā jano 'yam uccaiḥpadalaṅghanotsukaḥ
tapaḥ kiledaṃ tadavāptisādhanaṃ manorathānām agatir na vidyate
tapaḥ kiledaṃ tadavāptisādhanaṃ manorathānām agatir na vidyate
“As you have heard, finest of those who know the Veda, this girl longs to leap up to a very high place. Tapas, they say, is the way to reach it — there is nowhere a wish cannot go.”
हे वेदज्ञों में श्रेष्ठ, जैसा तुमने सुना, यह जन बहुत ऊँचे पद तक छलाँग लगाना चाहता है। कहते हैं, यह तप ही उसे पाने का साधन है — मनोरथों के लिए कोई स्थान अगम्य नहीं।
Kumarasambhava 5.64 · Kalidasa · Parvati to the disguised Shiva
शुचौ चतुर्णां ज्वलतां हविर्भुजां शुचिस्मिता मध्यगता सुमध्यमा ।
विजित्य नेत्रप्रतिघातिनीं प्रभामनन्यदृष्टिः सवितारमैक्षत ॥
विजित्य नेत्रप्रतिघातिनीं प्रभामनन्यदृष्टिः सवितारमैक्षत ॥
śucau caturṇāṃ jvalatāṃ havirbhujāṃ śucismitā madhyagatā sumadhyamā
vijitya netrapratighātinīṃ prabhām ananyadṛṣṭiḥ savitāram aikṣata
vijitya netrapratighātinīṃ prabhām ananyadṛṣṭiḥ savitāram aikṣata
“In the burning heat of summer, the sweet-smiling, slender-waisted girl sat in the middle of four blazing fires, and, overcoming the glare that strikes the eyes, gazed at the sun without looking away.”
जेठ-आषाढ़ की तपती गर्मी में, मधुर मुस्कान और पतली कमर वाली पार्वती चार जलती अग्नियों के बीच बैठीं, और आँखों को चौंधियाने वाले प्रकाश को जीतकर, एकटक सूर्य को देखती रहीं।
Kumarasambhava 5.20 · Kalidasa · Parvati's tapas of the five fires (the sun is the fifth)
स्वयंविशीर्णद्रुमपर्णवृत्तिता परा हि काष्ठा तपसस्तया पुनः ।
तदप्यपाकीर्णमतः प्रियंवदां वदन्त्यपर्णेति च तां पुराविदः ॥
तदप्यपाकीर्णमतः प्रियंवदां वदन्त्यपर्णेति च तां पुराविदः ॥
svayaṃviśīrṇadrumaparṇavṛttitā parā hi kāṣṭhā tapasas tayā punaḥ
tad apy apākīrṇam ataḥ priyaṃvadāṃ vadanty aparṇeti ca tāṃ purāvidaḥ
tad apy apākīrṇam ataḥ priyaṃvadāṃ vadanty aparṇeti ca tāṃ purāvidaḥ
“To live only on leaves that have fallen from the trees by themselves is the very limit of tapas — and she gave up even that. So those who know the old stories call her, the sweet-spoken one, Aparna: 'not even a leaf'.”
अपने-आप गिरे पेड़ों के पत्ते खाकर जीना तप की अंतिम सीमा है — और पार्वती ने वह भी छोड़ दिया। इसीलिए पुराने कथाकार उस मधुरभाषिणी को ‘अपर्णा’ कहते हैं।
Kumarasambhava 5.28 · Kalidasa · how Parvati got the name Aparna
अद्यप्रभृत्यवनताङ्गि तवास्मि दासः
क्रीतस्तपोभिरिति वादिनि चन्द्रमौलौ ।
अह्नाय सा नियमजं क्लममुत्ससर्ज
क्लेशः फलेन हि पुनर्नवतां विधत्ते ॥
क्रीतस्तपोभिरिति वादिनि चन्द्रमौलौ ।
अह्नाय सा नियमजं क्लममुत्ससर्ज
क्लेशः फलेन हि पुनर्नवतां विधत्ते ॥
adyaprabhṛty avanatāṅgi tavāsmi dāsaḥ
krītas tapobhir iti vādini candramaulau
ahnāya sā niyamajaṃ klamam utsasarja
kleśaḥ phalena hi punar navatāṃ vidhatte
krītas tapobhir iti vādini candramaulau
ahnāya sā niyamajaṃ klamam utsasarja
kleśaḥ phalena hi punar navatāṃ vidhatte
“"From today, you whose body is bowed, I am your servant — bought by your tapas," said the moon-crested god. At once she let go of all the weariness of her vows: hardship, once it bears fruit, becomes fresh strength again.”
‘हे झुके अंगों वाली, आज से मैं तुम्हारा दास हूँ — तुम्हारे तप से खरीदा हुआ,’ चन्द्रशेखर शिव के यह कहते ही पार्वती ने तप की सारी थकान उसी क्षण त्याग दी। फल मिल जाने पर कष्ट फिर से नई ताज़गी बन जाता है।
Kumarasambhava 5.86 · Kalidasa · Shiva, revealing himself to Parvati
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु शक्तिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥
yā devī sarvabhūteṣu śaktirūpeṇa saṃsthitā
namas tasyai namas tasyai namas tasyai namo namaḥ
namas tasyai namas tasyai namas tasyai namo namaḥ
“To the goddess who dwells in all beings in the form of power — salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation again and again.”
जो देवी सब प्राणियों में शक्ति रूप से स्थित हैं, उन्हें नमस्कार, उन्हें नमस्कार, उन्हें बार-बार नमस्कार।
Devi Mahatmya, ch. 5 (Markandeya Purana 85.18) · the gods' hymn, sung just before Parvati arrives
सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिके ।
शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके गौरि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥
शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके गौरि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥
sarvamaṅgalamāṅgalye śive sarvārthasādhike
śaraṇye tryambake gauri nārāyaṇi namo 'stu te
śaraṇye tryambake gauri nārāyaṇi namo 'stu te
“Auspiciousness of all that is auspicious, Shiva's own, who brings every aim to fulfilment; our refuge, three-eyed Gauri, Narayani — salutation to you.”
सब मंगलों का मंगल करने वाली, कल्याणमयी शिवा, सब कामनाएँ पूरी करने वाली, शरणागतों की रक्षक, त्रिनेत्रा गौरी, हे नारायणी — तुम्हें नमस्कार।
Devi Mahatmya, ch. 11 (Markandeya Purana 91.9) · the gods' hymn after the demons fall
Famous "Parvati quotes" that aren't what they seem
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शरीरमाद्यं खलु धर्मसाधनम्"The body is the first means of dharma" is genuine Kalidasa (Kumarasambhava 5.33) — but Parvati doesn't say it. Shiva, disguised as a young ascetic, says it to her, asking whether she is pushing her body too hard.Kumarasambhava 5.33 · Shiva in disguise, to Parvati
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शिव बिना शक्ति के शव हैA popular wordplay — take the "इ" (Shakti) out of शिव and you get शव, a corpse. The idea behind it is the Saundarya Lahari's first verse (above): without Shakti, Shiva cannot even stir. The wordplay itself isn't in that text.Modern wordplay · idea from Saundarya Lahari 1
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यत्र शिवः तत्र शक्तिः"Where Shiva is, there is Shakti" — a line we print on one of our own posters. It says what the Shaiva and Shakta texts teach, but we couldn't trace these exact words to a named text.Popular Sanskrit phrase · source text not traced
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गंगाधर तू, गंगोत्री मैंA modern Hindi line (we print it on our Shiv Parvati poster), not from any scripture.Modern Hindi line
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Dialogues from "Devon Ke Dev… Mahadev"Many "Parvati quotes" shared online come from the TV serial (2011–14). They are modern scripts, not lines from the Puranas or Kalidasa.TV serial · modern script
Questions people ask
What is the most powerful Parvati shloka?
For sheer force, the Devi Mahatmya's vow — “यो मां जयति संग्रामे यो मे दर्पं व्यपोहति” — spoken by Ambika, the goddess who came out of Parvati's body. For resolve, Kalidasa's line “क ईप्सितार्थस्थिरनिश्चयं मनः…”: who can turn back a mind fixed on its goal?
Is Parvati the same as Durga and Kali?
The Devi Mahatmya ties them together: when the gods praise the goddess, Parvati arrives, Ambika (Kaushiki) comes out of the sheath of her body, and Parvati herself turns dark and becomes Kalika (Markandeya Purana 85.40–44). Tradition sees Parvati, Durga and Kali as forms of one Shakti.
Why is Parvati called Aparna?
Because during her tapas she gave up even eating fallen leaves — parna means leaf. Kalidasa tells it in Kumarasambhava 5.28.
Who wrote the Kumarasambhava?
The poet Kalidasa, around the 5th century. It is a classical Sanskrit poem, not a scripture; canto 5 tells of Parvati's tapas and how Shiva, in disguise, tests her and then gives himself to her.
What does "ya devi sarvabhuteshu shaktirupena samsthita" mean?
"To the goddess who dwells in all beings as power — salutation to her, again and again." It is from the gods' hymn in chapter 5 of the Devi Mahatmya, sung just before Parvati arrives at the Ganga.
Where do these meanings come from?
The Sanskrit is from the Kumarasambhava and the Markandeya Purana as given on GRETIL, the Göttingen e-text library, and from the traditional text of the Saundarya Lahari. The English and Hindi meanings are our own close renderings.
Shiv and Shakti, for your wall
