Shloka 40

रावणस्य तपः-शिवानुग्रहः — Rāvaṇa’s Austerity and Śiva’s Bestowal of Grace

Devanagari script

ग्रीष्मे पंचाग्निमध्ये तु वर्षासु स्थंडिलेशयः । शीते जलांतरस्थो हि कृतं चैव त्रिधा तपः

Transliteration

grīṣme paṃcāgnimadhye tu varṣāsu sthaṃḍileśayaḥ | śīte jalāṃtarastho hi kṛtaṃ caiva tridhā tapaḥ

Translation

In summer, the ascetic remains amid the five fires; in the rainy season, he lies upon the bare ground; and in winter, he stays immersed within water—thus, indeed, the threefold austerity is performed.

Word by Word

• ग्रीष्मे: in summer
• ग्रीष्मे: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रीष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• पञ्चाग्निमध्ये: amidst five fires
• पञ्चाग्निमध्ये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘पञ्चानाम् अग्नीनां मध्ये’ (amid five fires)

• तु: and/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विरोध/विशेषार्थक (particle: but/indeed)

• वर्षासु: in the rains
• वर्षासु: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन

• स्थण्डिले: on the bare ground
• स्थण्डिले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थण्डिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• शयः: lying (down)
• शयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शी (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, ण्वुल्/अच्-प्रत्ययान्त (agentive) ‘शय’ = lying/sleeping; पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा एकवचन (as predicate: ‘one who lies’)

• शीते: in winter
• शीते: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; ऋतुवाचक (in winter/cold season)

• जलान्तरस्थः: standing in water
• जलान्तरस्थः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः ‘जलान्तरॆ स्थितः’ = standing within water

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थक (particle: for/indeed)

• कृतम्: was performed
• कृतम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; ‘done/performed’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (and)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण (emphasis: just/indeed)

• त्रिधा: in three ways
• त्रिधा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रिधा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (adverb: in three ways)

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

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents “tridhā tapaḥ,” the threefold seasonal austerity, as a model of disciplined endurance that purifies the bound soul (paśu) and turns the mind toward Pati (Shiva). In Shaiva Siddhanta, such tapas supports inner purification and devotion, preparing one for Shiva’s grace rather than replacing it.

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

These austerities are traditionally undertaken to steady the senses and concentrate the mind, making Linga worship (abhisheka, mantra-japa, dhyana) more focused and sattvic. The verse emphasizes bodily discipline as an aid to Saguna Shiva-upasana, which culminates in deeper inward surrender to Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse directly points to ascetic tapas (seasonal disciplines). In practical Shaiva practice, it can be paired with daily Panchakshara japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), Tripundra (bhasma) wearing, and Rudraksha dharana to convert outer endurance into steady inner remembrance of Shiva.