Shloka 29

Anasūyā–Atri Tapas-Varṇana

Description of Anasūyā and Atri’s Austerities

Devanagari script

दृष्ट्वा च तत्तपस्सेवां विस्मयं परमं ययुः । तयोस्तदद्भुतं दृष्ट्वा समूचुर्भजनं वरम्

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvā ca tattapassevāṃ vismayaṃ paramaṃ yayuḥ | tayostadadbhutaṃ dṛṣṭvā samūcurbhajanaṃ varam

Translation

Seeing that intense service of tapas, they were struck with the highest amazement. Beholding the wondrous state of those two, they then spoke of the supreme way of bhajana—the worship of Lord Śiva.

Word by Word

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; धातु: दृश्; ‘having seen’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण (demonstrative)

• तपः-सेवाम्: service of austerity / practice of tapas
• तपः-सेवाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक) + सेवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): तपसः सेवा; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• विस्मयम्: wonder, amazement
• विस्मयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विस्मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• परमम्: supreme, great
• परमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of विस्मयम्)

• ययुः: they went / they attained
• ययुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• तयोः: of the two
• तयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/genitive), द्विवचन; ‘of the two’

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• अद्भुतम्: marvelous
• अद्भुतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having seen’

• समूचुः: they said, they spoke
• समूचुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: सम्

• भजनम्: worship, devotion
• भजनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• वरम्: excellent, best
• वरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (of भजनम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Models the fruit of darśana: wonder (vismaya) ripens into instruction about superior Śiva-bhajana, implying that pilgrimage culminates in right worship and inner transformation.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that true spiritual power arises when tapas is not mere self-denial but devoted “seva”—a disciplined offering to Pati (Śiva). Such tapas, when aligned with bhajana, becomes a direct cause for Śiva’s grace and inner transformation toward liberation.

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

In the Kotirudra context (Jyotirliṅga-oriented devotion), the ‘supreme bhajana’ points to Saguna worship—adoration of Śiva through liṅga-pūjā, mantra, and reverent service—where disciplined practice (tapas) supports steady devotion and makes worship ‘excellent’ and efficacious.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is tapas joined to bhajana: daily Śiva-pūjā with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), supported by simple disciplines (purity, restraint, regularity). If following Shiva Purana practice, one may add tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and rudrākṣa as aids to steady remembrance.