Shloka 7

तपसो महिमा

The Greatness and Typology of Tapas

Devanagari script

सुस्थितस्तपसि ब्रह्मा नित्यं विष्णुर्हरस्तथा । देवा देव्योऽखिलाः प्राप्तास्तपसा दुर्लभं फलम्

Transliteration

susthitastapasi brahmā nityaṃ viṣṇurharastathā | devā devyo'khilāḥ prāptāstapasā durlabhaṃ phalam

Translation

برهما ثابتٌ راسخٌ في التقشّف، وكذلك فيشنو وهارا (شيفا) يقيمان دائمًا في التابَس. وقد نالت جميع الآلهة والإلهات، بالتقشّف، الثمرة النادرة العسيرة المنال.

Word by Word

• सुस्थितः: well-established
• सुस्थितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृत्) → स्थित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative 1st, Singular; past participle (क्त) used adjectivally

• तपसि: in austerity
• तपसि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; locus

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative 1st, Singular; proper noun

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण द्वितीया एकवचन)

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative 1st, Singular; proper noun

• हरः: Hara (Śiva)
• हरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative 1st, Singular; proper noun (Śiva)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/particle (क्रियाविशेषण/निपात)

• देवाः: gods
• देवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative 1st, Plural; subject

• देव्यः: goddesses
• देव्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative 1st, Plural; subject

• अखिलाः: all (entire)
• अखिलाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative 1st, Plural; agrees with देव्यः (and by sense with देवाः)

• प्राप्ताः: obtained/attained
• प्राप्ताः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्) → प्राप्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past participle (क्त), Nominative plural; used predicatively with implied 'are'

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental 3rd, Singular

• दुर्लभम्: hard-to-obtain
• दुर्लभम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् (उपसर्ग) + लभ् (धातु) + खल्/अ (कृत्) → दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative 2nd, Singular; qualifies फलम्

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative 2nd, Singular; object of 'attained'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Hara

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Universalizes tapas: even Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Hara are ‘susthita’ in it; thus devotees should not neglect disciplined practice. The ‘durlabha phala’ suggests rare attainments—ranging from divine status to liberation—ultimately dependent on Śiva’s grace in Siddhānta framing.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that even the highest deities uphold tapas as the proven means to gain rare spiritual attainments; in Shaiva thought, disciplined tapas purifies the pasha (bondage) and turns the soul toward Pati (Śiva), the giver of grace and liberation.

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

It frames Shiva-worship as a path requiring steadiness and inner discipline: Linga-upāsanā (Saguna Shiva worship) becomes fruitful when supported by tapas—regular japa, vrata, and meditation—so that the devotee becomes fit to receive Shiva’s anugraha (grace).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt tapas as a steady daily practice—Pañcākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), vrata/fasting on auspicious days, and meditation on Śiva—optionally supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as per Shaiva observance.