Shloka 30

Anasūyā–Atri Tapas-Varṇana

Description of Anasūyā and Atri’s Austerities

Devanagari script

उभयोः किं विशिष्टं च तपसो भजनस्य च । अत्रेश्चैव तपः प्रोक्तमनसूयानुसेवनम्

Transliteration

ubhayoḥ kiṃ viśiṣṭaṃ ca tapaso bhajanasya ca | atreścaiva tapaḥ proktamanasūyānusevanam

Translation

“What is the special distinction between tapas (austerity) and bhajana (devotional worship)? In the case of Sage Atri, his ‘tapas’ is declared to be none other than devoted attendance upon and service to Anasūyā.”

Word by Word

• उभयोः: of both
• उभयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/genitive), द्विवचन; ‘of both’

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Prashna (प्रश्न/ interrogative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• विशिष्टम्: distinctive, special
• विशिष्टम्: Viśeṣya-bhāva (विशेष्यभाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक; √शिष् क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (what is special/distinct)

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

• तपसः: of austerity (tapas)
• तपसः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन

• भजनस्य: of worship/devotion
• भजनस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन

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

• अत्रेः: of Atri
• अत्रेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अत्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन

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

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

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

• प्रोक्तम्: is declared
• प्रोक्तम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त-क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘is said/declared’

• अनसूया-अनुसेवनम्: service/attendance upon Anasūyā
• अनसूया-अनुसेवनम्: Karma/Viśeṣya (कर्म/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनसूया (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुसेवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: अनसूयायाः अनुसेवनम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Atri
• Anasuya

FAQs

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

It teaches that true tapas is not merely physical hardship but inner purification expressed as selfless service and steadfast devotion; Atri’s austerity is exemplified as dedicated service to the virtuous Anasūyā.

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

In Shaiva practice, Saguna worship of Shiva (including Linga-puja) is fulfilled by bhakti expressed through humility and seva; the verse frames devotion as the heart of discipline, making worship effective through purity of conduct.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is bhakti-yukta seva: perform daily Shiva worship (e.g., Linga-abhisheka with mantra-japa such as Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a service-attitude—cleanliness, restraint, and devoted attendance to dharmic duties.