Shloka 14

तपसो महिमा

The Greatness and Typology of Tapas

Devanagari script

तपस्तामसमुद्दिष्टं मनोभिप्रेतसाधनम्

Transliteration

tapastāmasamuddiṣṭaṃ manobhipretasādhanam

Translation

যে তপস্যা কেবল মনের অভিপ্রেত উদ্দেশ্য সাধনের জন্য করা হয়, তাকে ‘তামস’ তপ বলা হয়েছে।

Word by Word

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तामसम्: tamasic
• तामसम्: Karta-anvayi (कर्तृ/विषयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तामस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying तपः)

• उद्दिष्टम्: is declared
• उद्दिष्टम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-दिश् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘designated/declared’

• मनोऽभिप्रेतसाधनम्: a means to what the mind desires
• मनोऽभिप्रेतसाधनम्: Visheshya (विशेष्य/Complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् + अभिप्रेत + साधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (मनसः अभिप्रेतस्य साधनम्)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Warns that mind-driven (manobhipreta) austerity is tāmasa; pilgrims are urged to replace self-serving intent with Śiva-arpita bhakti and ethical purification.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It warns that austerity driven by tamas becomes a tool for egoic or deluded desires, not a purifier leading to Shiva-realization; intention must be aligned with dharma and liberation.

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

Linga-worship is meant to refine the soul (paśu) and loosen bonds (pāśa); if tapas is performed only for personal gain, it remains tāmasika and does not mature into devotion that reveals Pati (Shiva).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice tapas as Shiva-arpana (offering to Shiva): steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with purity of motive, rather than austerities aimed at fulfilling mere mental cravings.