Shloka 24

Anasūyā–Atri Tapas-Varṇana

Description of Anasūyā and Atri’s Austerities

Devanagari script

यावत्कालं मुनिवरः प्राणायामपरायणः । तौ दम्पती तदा तत्र स्वस्व कार्यपरायणौ

Transliteration

yāvatkālaṃ munivaraḥ prāṇāyāmaparāyaṇaḥ | tau dampatī tadā tatra svasva kāryaparāyaṇau

Translation

For as long as the excellent sage remained wholly absorbed in the discipline of prāṇāyāma, that husband and wife, in that very place, stayed intent upon their respective duties.

Word by Word

• yāvat-kālam: for as long as (during that time)
• yāvat-kālam: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāvat (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; कालवाचक-अव्ययम् (temporal adverbial: 'as long as/for the duration of')

• muni-varaḥ: the best sage
• muni-varaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—'श्रेष्ठः मुनिः'

• prāṇāyāma-parāyaṇaḥ: devoted to breath-control
• prāṇāyāma-parāyaṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāṇāyāma (प्रातिपदिक) + parāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/उपपद-तत्पुरुषार्थः—'प्राणायामे परायणः' (devoted to prāṇāyāma)

• tau: those two
• tau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; सर्वनाम

• dampatī: the couple (husband and wife)
• dampatī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dampatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (दम्पति-शब्दः), प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• tadā: then
• tadā: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्ययम् (temporal adverb)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्ययम् (locative adverb)

• sva-sva: each one’s own
• sva-sva: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + sva (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः/द्वन्द्व-समासः; अव्ययवत् विशेषणम्—'स्वं स्वं' (each one’s own)

• kārya-parāyaṇau: devoted to (their) tasks
• kārya-parāyaṇau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक) + parāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; तत्पुरुषः—'कार्ये परायणौ' (devoted to their duties)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Presents yogic discipline (prāṇāyāma) as a means of becoming fit for grace; in kṣetra practice, it parallels regulated breath and mind before darśana/abhisheka.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva ideal of inner discipline (prāṇāyāma) alongside steadfast performance of one’s ordained duties—showing that spiritual absorption and dharma can proceed together as supports for grace and liberation.

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

By portraying yogic steadiness and orderly conduct, the verse sets the devotional atmosphere in which Saguna Shiva worship—such as Linga-pūjā with mantra—becomes stable, focused, and fruitful rather than distracted.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Prāṇāyāma (regulated breath) is explicitly indicated; it can be paired with Panchākṣarī japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and simple Linga worship, maintaining purity and steadiness of mind.