Shloka 3

शिवस्य तपोऽनुष्ठानम् — Śiva’s Austerity and Meditation at Himavat

Gaṅgā-Region

Devanagari script

तस्मिन्नेवान्तरे शम्भुर्लौकिकीं गतिमाश्रितः । समाधातुं मनस्सम्यक्तपः कर्त्तुं समैच्छत

Transliteration

tasminnevāntare śambhurlaukikīṃ gatimāśritaḥ | samādhātuṃ manassamyaktapaḥ karttuṃ samaicchata

Translation

Just then, Śambhu assumed an outward, worldly mode of conduct, wishing to steady his mind in true concentration (samādhi) and to undertake austerity (tapas) in the proper way.

Word by Word

• तस्मिन्: in that
• तस्मिन्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• अन्तरे: in the interval/meanwhile
• अन्तरे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• शम्भुः: Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भुः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śambhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• लौकिकीम्: worldly/common
• लौकिकीम्: कर्मविशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: laukikī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• गतिम्: course/way/state
• गतिम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आश्रितः: having resorted to
• आश्रितः: कर्तृविशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-śri (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; धातु: श्रि (to resort) उपसर्ग: आ

• समाधातुम्: to compose/settle
• समाधातुम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose/Infinitive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-dhā (धातु) + tumun (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive), अर्थः ‘सम्यक् आधातुम्/स्थापयितुम्’ (to compose/settle)

• मनः: mind
• मनः: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सम्यक्: properly/well
• सम्यक्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samyak (अव्यय)
• Form: रीतिवाचक अव्यय (adverb: properly/well)

• तपः: austerity/penance
• तपः: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कर्त्तुम्: to do/perform
• कर्त्तुम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose/Infinitive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु) + tumun (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive), ‘कर्तुम्’ (to do/perform)

• समैच्छत: desired/wished
• समैच्छत: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-īṣ (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; धातु: ईष्/इष् (to desire) उपसर्ग: सम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse frames Śiva’s deliberate assumption of laukika (outwardly worldly) conduct as a pedagogical concealment: the Lord appears to enter ordinary modes so that tapas and samādhi can be enacted within the manifest world, setting the stage for later sacred geography (Gaṅgā/Himālaya) episodes.

Significance: Models the Śaiva Siddhānta principle that the Lord’s veiling (tirodhāna) is purposeful—guiding bound souls toward discipline that culminates in grace (anugraha).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It shows Śiva as the supreme yogin who, even while appearing worldly (laukikī gati), remains intent on inner discipline—stabilizing the mind in samādhi and performing tapas as a deliberate spiritual act that models the Shaiva path of purification and liberation.

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

By adopting an accessible, worldly demeanor, Śiva becomes relatable as Saguna (with qualities and actions), guiding devotees toward inner worship—where the Linga signifies the steady, centered Reality that the mind seeks in samādhi.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is disciplined meditation aimed at samādhi, supported by tapas (regulated living). In Shaiva practice this commonly aligns with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and yogic concentration, even while maintaining outward duties.