Shloka 42

पानीयदान-प्रपादान-वापीकूपतडाग-निर्माण-प्रशंसा

Praise of Water-Gift and the Construction of Wells and Tanks

Devanagari script

नानाविधानि वस्तूनि तपसा लभते नरः । तपसा लभते सर्वं मनसा यद्यदिच्छति

Transliteration

nānāvidhāni vastūni tapasā labhate naraḥ | tapasā labhate sarvaṃ manasā yadyadicchati

Translation

Durch Tapas erlangt der Mensch vielerlei Errungenschaften; durch Tapas gewinnt er alles, wonach der Geist wahrhaft verlangt. Aus śaivischer Sicht trägt Tapas Frucht, wenn es mit Hingabe an Pati (Śiva) und mit disziplinierter innerer Ausrichtung übereinstimmt und den Suchenden von weltlichen Gewinnen zur Befreiung führt.

Word by Word

• नानाविधानि: of various kinds
• नानाविधानि: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन (Plural); कर्मधारयः — ‘various kinds (of)’

• वस्तूनि: things, objects
• वस्तूनि: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन (Plural)

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• लभते: obtains
• लभते: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• नरः: a man, person
• नरः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular)

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• लभते: obtains
• लभते: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• मनसा: by the mind
• मनसा: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (Singular); करण (instrumental)

• यत्: whatever (that which)
• यत्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular); सम्बन्धबोधक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• यत्: whatever
• यत्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular); पुनरुक्ति (reduplication) for emphasis

• इच्छति: desires
• इच्छति: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (instructing Umā/Parvati in the Umāsaṃhitā’s philosophical discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that tapas (disciplined austerity and inner restraint) is a potent spiritual force. In a Shaiva Siddhanta reading, its highest purpose is not mere acquisition but purification of the mind and loosening of pāśa (bondage), so the seeker becomes fit for Śiva’s grace and liberation.

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

Tapas is most effective when anchored in Saguna Shiva worship—such as Linga-pūjā, vrata, and steady japa—because devotion gives right direction to desire. The mind’s wishes become refined into Shiva-oriented intent, turning austerity into a means of inner transformation rather than ego-driven gain.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Undertake regulated tapas such as Mahāśivarātri vrata, daily Linga abhiṣeka, and Panchākṣarī japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with mental discipline (saṅkalpa). If practiced with purity and steadiness, these become the practical form of tapas indicated by the verse.