Shloka 31

Anasūyā–Atri Tapas-Varṇana

Description of Anasūyā and Atri’s Austerities

Devanagari script

तत्सर्वमुभयोर्दृष्ट्वा समूचुर्भजनं वरम् । पूर्वैश्च ऋषिभिश्चैव दुष्करं तु तपः कृतम्

Transliteration

tatsarvamubhayordṛṣṭvā samūcurbhajanaṃ varam | pūrvaiśca ṛṣibhiścaiva duṣkaraṃ tu tapaḥ kṛtam

Translation

Seeing all that on both sides, they declared that bhajana—devotional worship—is the highest path; for even the ancient sages had undertaken arduous tapas only to attain that divine realization.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वम् इति विशेषणम्

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म

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

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund)

• समूचुः: they said
• समूचुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• भजनम्: worship/devotion
• भजनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भज् (धातु) → भजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; उक्तेः कर्म (what was said)

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

• पूर्वैः: by the ancients
• पूर्वैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; ‘by the ancients’

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

• ऋषिभिः: by sages
• ऋषिभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• दुष्करम्: difficult
• दुष्करम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुष्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तपः इति विशेषणम्

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वयबोधक अव्यय

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

• कृतम्: was done/performed
• कृतम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत (कृदन्त/क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगभावः (done/performed)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rishis

FAQs

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

The verse elevates bhajana (devotional worship) as the श्रेष्ठ साधन (supreme means), implying that even severe tapas becomes fruitful when oriented toward Shiva (Pati) and culminates in devotion and surrender.

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

By praising bhajana as the best, it supports Saguna-upasana—approaching Shiva through accessible forms such as the Linga, where reverent worship, mantra, and offerings become a direct path to grace beyond mere self-effort.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to prioritize Shiva-bhajana: daily Linga worship with Panchakshara japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), supported by simple disciplines like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrाक्षa as aids to steadiness and devotion.