Shloka 16

सा तत्र परमं देवी तपो5चरद्‌ दुश्चरम्‌ । समा होकपदे तस्थौ दश पद्मानि पजच च

sā tatra paramaṃ devī tapo 'carad duścaram | samā ho(k)a-pade tasthau daśa padmāni pañca ca ||

هناك شرعت تلك الإلهة العظمى في تَقَشُّفٍ شديد، بالغ العسر. وظلّت ثابتة في تلك الهيئة عشر سنين، ثم خمسًا أُخَر، محتملةً رياضة النفس دون أن تتزعزع.

साshe
सा:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
तत्रthere
तत्र:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतत्र
परमम्supreme, highest
परमम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootपरम
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
देवीthe goddess
देवी:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootदेवी
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
तपःausterity, penance
तपः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootतपस्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
अचरद्practised, performed
अचरद्:
TypeVerb
Rootचर्
FormImperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
दुश्चरम्hard to perform
दुश्चरम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootदुश्चर
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
समाyears
समा:
TypeNoun
Rootसम
FormFeminine, Nominative, Plural
एकपदेon one foot (in the one-foot posture)
एकपदे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootएकपद
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
तस्थौstood, remained
तस्थौ:
TypeVerb
Rootस्था
FormPerfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
दशten
दश:
TypeNumeral
Rootदश
पद्मानिlotuses
पद्मानि:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपद्म
FormNeuter, Accusative, Plural
पञ्चfive
पञ्च:
TypeNumeral
Rootपञ्च

पितामह उवाच

D
devī (the goddess)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the ethical power of tapas—disciplined endurance and self-restraint—as a means to attain higher aims. Steadfastness over long periods is presented as a mark of inner strength and spiritual seriousness.

Bhīṣma describes a goddess who, in a particular place, undertakes extremely difficult austerities and remains fixed in a chosen posture for a long duration—ten years and five more—emphasizing the intensity and constancy of her penance.