Shloka 41

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

Devanagari script

एवं मया कृतं तत्र तपोत्युग्रं मुनीश्वर । तथापि शंकरो मह्यं न प्रसन्नोऽभवन्मनाक्

Transliteration

evaṃ mayā kṛtaṃ tatra tapotyugraṃ munīśvara | tathāpi śaṃkaro mahyaṃ na prasanno'bhavanmanāk

Translation

Thus, O lord of sages, I performed there a very intense austerity; yet Śaṅkara did not become even slightly pleased with me.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (adverb: thus)

• मया: by me
• मया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

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

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, स्थानवाचक (locative adverb)

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; here as object of ‘कृतम्’ (tapas performed)

• अत्युग्रम्: very severe
• अत्युग्रम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (अव्यय/उपसर्ग) + उग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण of तपः; ‘very fierce’

• मुनीश्वर: O lord of sages
• मुनीश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनीश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘मुनीनां ईश्वरः’

• तथापि: nevertheless
• तथापि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय) + अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययसमूह (conjunctive adverb): ‘even so/however’

• शंकरः: Śaṅkara
• शंकरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• मह्यम्: to me
• मह्यम्: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध (negation)

• प्रसन्नः: pleased
• प्रसन्नः: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेयविशेषण of शंकरः

• अभवत्: was/became
• अभवत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• मनाक्: even slightly
• मनाक्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मनाक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, परिमाणवाचक (adverb: even a little)

Speaker

A devotee/ascetic narrator (within Suta Goswami’s narration in the Koṭirudrasaṃhitā)

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 highlights that extreme self-effort (tapas) does not automatically compel Shiva’s grace; in Shaiva Siddhanta, liberation and boons ultimately depend on Śiva’s anugraha (bestowing grace) along with purity, humility, and right devotion.

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

It implies that Saguna worship—approaching Śiva as Śaṅkara with reverence, surrender, and proper observances—matters as much as austerity; Linga worship is not mere ritual power but a relationship of devotion that invites prasāda (divine favor).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Balance tapas with bhakti: regular japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), Linga-pūjā with sincerity, and inner humility; austerity should be offered as worship rather than as a demand for results.