Shloka 12

आततस्थे स तपस्तीव्रं पिता तव तपोधन: । वीटां मुखे समाधाय वायुभक्षो5भवन्मुनि:,वहाँ जाकर तपस्याके धनी तुम्हारे ताऊने कठोर तपस्या आरम्भ की। वे मुँहमें पत्थरका टुकड़ा रखकर वायुका आहार करते और मौन रहते थे

ātatasthe sa tapastīvraṃ pitā tava tapodhanaḥ | vīṭāṃ mukhe samādhāya vāyubhakṣo 'bhavan muniḥ ||

Nārada said: “There, your father—rich in ascetic power—undertook a severe austerity. Placing a small stone in his mouth, the sage lived only on air and maintained silence.”

आततस्थेstood firm; remained engaged
आततस्थे:
TypeVerb
Rootस्था (आ-तन्-स्था > आततस्-)
FormPerfect (Liṭ), 3rd, singular, Ātmanepada
सःhe
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद् (स)
Formmasculine, nominative, singular
तपःausterity; penance
तपः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootतपस्
Formneuter, accusative, singular
तीव्रम्severe; intense
तीव्रम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootतीव्र
Formneuter, accusative, singular
पिताfather
पिता:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपितृ
Formmasculine, nominative, singular
तवof you; your
तव:
TypePronoun
Rootयुष्मद्
Formgenitive, singular
तपोधनःone whose wealth is austerity; ascetic
तपोधनः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootतपोधन
Formmasculine, nominative, singular
वीटाम्a lump/piece (here: stone/pebble piece)
वीटाम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootवीटा
Formfeminine, accusative, singular
मुखेin (his) mouth
मुखे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootमुख
Formneuter, locative, singular
समाधायhaving placed; having put
समाधाय:
TypeVerb
Rootधा (सम्-आ-)
FormLyap (absolutive/gerund), parasmaipada/ātmanepada-neutral (gerund)
वायुभक्षःair-eating; living on air
वायुभक्षः:
TypeAdjective
Rootवायुभक्ष
Formmasculine, nominative, singular
अभवत्became; was
अभवत्:
TypeVerb
Rootभू (अभि-)
FormImperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, singular, Parasmaipada
मुनिःsage
मुनिः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमुनि
Formmasculine, nominative, singular

नारद उवाच

N
Nārada
Y
your father (pitā tava)
M
muni (the sage/ascetic)
V
vīṭā (small stone/pebble)
V
vāyu (air)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the ethical power of disciplined renunciation: by embracing austerity, silence, and minimal sustenance, one cultivates mastery over desire and steadiness of purpose—qualities praised as supports of dharma and inner purification.

Nārada describes how the person referred to as 'your father' undertakes harsh penance at that place: he puts a small stone in his mouth (signaling a vow of silence and restraint) and lives on air alone, practicing extreme ascetic discipline.