Shloka 64

गिरिजाया तपोऽनुज्ञा

Permission for Girijā’s Austerities

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वा दृष्ट्वा तपोऽस्यास्तु किमन्यैः क्रियते तपः । अस्मात्तपोऽधिकं लोके न भूतं न भविष्यति

Transliteration

śrutvā dṛṣṭvā tapo'syāstu kimanyaiḥ kriyate tapaḥ | asmāttapo'dhikaṃ loke na bhūtaṃ na bhaviṣyati

Translation

Having heard of it and having seen her austerity, what need is there for others to perform penance? In this world, no austerity greater than this has ever existed, nor will it ever come to be.

Word by Word

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having heard)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya (क्रिया/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having seen)

• तपः: austerity/penance
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता) / द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म) एकवचन; अत्र संदर्भे—विषय/कर्मरूपेण (her austerity)

• अस्याः: of her
• अस्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधान/विरोधार्थक-निपात

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम

• अन्यैः: by others
• अन्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• क्रियते: is done/performed
• क्रियते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

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

• अस्मात्: than this/from this
• अस्मात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तपः: penance
• तपः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/तुलना)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तुलना-विषय (standard of comparison)

• अधिकम्: greater
• अधिकम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तुलनात्मक विशेषण (greater)

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध (negation particle)

• भूतम्: has existed
• भूतम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle, क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘has been’ अर्थे (existent in past)

• न: nor
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध (negation particle)

• भविष्यति: will be
• भविष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Establishes tapas (austerity) as a paradigmatic sādhana for Śiva-prāpti; inspires devotees toward niyama, vairāgya, and steadfast bhakti.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

It proclaims the unsurpassed power of sincere tapas when directed toward Pati (Lord Shiva), showing that single-pointed devotion and disciplined austerity can overcome all worldly limitations and lead toward Shiva’s grace and ultimate liberation.

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

Parvati’s tapas is an archetype of Saguna Shiva-upāsanā—approaching Shiva as the personal Lord who bestows grace. In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, effort (tapas) prepares the soul (paśu), but attainment is fulfilled through Shiva’s anugraha (grace), often expressed through Linga worship and vowed devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse points to steadfast vrata and disciplined meditation: regular japa of Shiva-mantra (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), worship of the Shiva-Linga with purity, and sustained tapas (self-restraint, fasting, and focused contemplation) as supportive practices.