Shloka 29

शिवस्य तपोऽनुष्ठानम् — Śiva’s Austerity and Meditation at Himavat

Gaṅgā-Region

Devanagari script

अहं तपश्चराम्यत्र गंगावतरणे स्थले । आश्रितस्तव सुप्रीतो गिरिराज यतात्मवान्

Transliteration

ahaṃ tapaścarāmyatra gaṃgāvataraṇe sthale | āśritastava suprīto girirāja yatātmavān

Translation

“Here, at this sacred place of Gaṅgā’s descent, I practise tapas (austerity). Taking refuge in you, O Girirāja, I remain deeply pleased and self-restrained.”

Word by Word

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तपः: austerity/penance
• तपः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मपद (object)

• चरामि: I practice/I perform
• चरामि: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √चर् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• गङ्गावतरणे: at the descent of the Ganga
• गङ्गावतरणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा + अवतरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘गङ्गायाः अवतरणम्’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• स्थले: in the place/site
• स्थले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• आश्रितः: having taken refuge; dependent
• आश्रितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आश्रित (प्रातिपदिक; √श्रि (धातु) उपसर्ग-आ + क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, विशेषण (to अहम्)

• तव: of you/your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सुप्रीतः: very pleased
• सुप्रीतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुप्रीत (प्रातिपदिक; सु + प्रीत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• गिरिराज: O king of mountains
• गिरिराज: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरिराज (प्रातिपदिक; गिरि + राजन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; ‘गिरीणां राजा’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• यतात्मवान्: self-controlled
• यतात्मवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यत + आत्मन् + वत् (प्रातिपदिक; यत = √यम् (धातु) क्त-प्रत्यय/विशेषणार्थ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (यत आत्मा यस्य सः)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Giriraja (Himalaya)

FAQs

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

It highlights tapas (austerity) and śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) as Shaiva means of purification—self-restraint and devotion mature the soul (paśu) toward Shiva’s grace (Pati), especially at a tirtha sanctified by Gaṅgā’s descent.

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

By presenting Shiva as approachable Saguna Lord who accepts devotion and discipline, the verse supports Linga-worship as a concrete focus for refuge, steadiness of mind, and sustained practice (japa, dhyāna, vrata) aligned with Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A takeaway is to undertake vrata/tapas with yama-like self-control, combined with Shiva-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and tirtha-oriented worship—optionally with bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as Shaiva supports.