Shloka 36

Devanagari script

एवं वां तप्यतोस्तीव्रं तप: परमदुष्करम् । दिव्यवर्षसहस्राणि द्वादशेयुर्मदात्मनो: ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

evaṁ vāṁ tapyatos tīvraṁ tapaḥ parama-duṣkaram divya-varṣa-sahasrāṇi dvādaśeyur mad-ātmanoḥ

Translation

So habt ihr, im Bewusstsein Meiner, eine intensive und äußerst schwer zu vollbringende Askese zwölftausend himmlische Jahre lang ausgeübt.

Synonyms

• evam: thus
• evam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (manner adverb: thus)

• vām: of you two
• vām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन (also used for dative/acc. in some contexts; here genitive ‘of you two’)

• tapyatoḥ: of you two who were doing penance
• tapyatoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tap (धातु)
• Form: शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन; ‘while you two were performing austerity’

• tīvram: intense
• tīvram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tīvra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (तपः इत्यस्य)

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

• parama-duṣkaram: supremely difficult
• parama-duṣkaram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama + duṣkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (परमं च तत् दुष्करं च)

• divya-varṣa-sahasrāṇi: thousands of divine years
• divya-varṣa-sahasrāṇi: Kāla (कालपरिमाण/अत्यन्तसंयोग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: divya + varṣa + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (दिव्यानि वर्षाणि सहस्राणि)

• dvādaśa: twelve
• dvādaśa: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvādaśa (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, अव्ययवत्/विशेषणरूपेण; (here qualifying ‘sahasrāṇi’: twelve)

• īyuḥ: passed (elapsed)
• īyuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: i (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; ‘passed/went by’ (with time as subject)

• mad-ātmanoḥ: of my own (devotees/selves)
• mad-ātmanoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (मम आत्मनौ = my selves; i.e., devoted to me)

Characters & Entities

• Vasudeva
• Devaki
• Lord Vishnu

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 10.3.36 say about the power of tapasya and bhakti?

It states that Vasudeva and Devakī performed extremely difficult austerities for a vast span of divine time, emphasizing that steadfast devotion (being “mad-ātmā”) and sincere tapasya attract the Lord’s direct response.

Why does Lord Vishnu mention “twelve thousand celestial years” to Vasudeva and Devaki?

To highlight the extraordinary depth and duration of their devotion and austerity, showing that their spiritual effort was not momentary but sustained—worthy of the Lord’s personal appearance and blessing.

How can this teaching be applied in modern devotional life?

Maintain steady, sincere practice—regular sādhana, self-discipline, and remembrance of God—understanding that spiritual results come through perseverance, not haste.