Shloka 22

Anasūyā–Atri Tapas-Varṇana

Description of Anasūyā and Atri’s Austerities

Devanagari script

तथैनां च तदा दृष्ट्वा नायान्तीह समीपगाः । अत्रेश्च तपसश्चैवानसूया शिवसेवनम्

Transliteration

tathaināṃ ca tadā dṛṣṭvā nāyāntīha samīpagāḥ | atreśca tapasaścaivānasūyā śivasevanam

Translation

And then, seeing her, they did not come near her. For Atri’s austerity and Anasūyā’s devoted service to Lord Śiva were formidable and sanctifying.

Word by Word

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (thus)

• एनाम्: her/this (female)
• एनाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय

• आयान्ति: they come
• आयान्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग-आ (ā√yā)

• इह: here
• इह: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (here)

• समीपगाः: approaching/near-going
• समीपगाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समीप (प्रातिपदिक) + ग (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक, √गम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुष (sāmīpa-gāḥ = those who go/come near)

• अत्रेः: of Atri
• अत्रेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अत्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• तपसः: of austerity
• तपसः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय

• अनसूया: Anasūyā
• अनसूया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनसूया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृ/विषय (contextual)

• शिव-सेवनम्: service of Shiva
• शिव-सेवनम्: Vishaya/Karma (विषय/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + सेवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (Śiva-sevanam = service of Śiva); पद्ये विषय/कर्मरूपेण (elliptic)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse functions as a micro-sthala-purāṇa of sanctity: tapas (Atri) and śiva-sevā (Anasūyā) generate a protective, consecrated field that repels unfit approach—akin to a kṣetra’s ‘prabhāva’.

Significance: Highlights the Siddhānta principle that proximity to Śiva is mediated by adhikāra (fitness) gained through tapas and sevā; the holy person becomes a moving tīrtha.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Atri
• Anasuya

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the sanctifying power of tapas and Shiva-sevā: when devotion is mature, it naturally creates a protective spiritual radiance (śakti) that keeps harmful or impure influences at a distance.

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

“Śiva-sevanam” implies concrete, Saguna worship—service to Lord Shiva as the accessible Lord (often through Linga-pūjā). Such worship, supported by discipline and purity, is portrayed as spiritually protective and transformative.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is steady Shiva-sevā supported by tapas: daily japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), simple Linga worship, and a disciplined, pure lifestyle—especially emphasized for Mahāśivarātri observance.