Shloka 46

Devanagari script

दिव्यं द्वादश साहस्रं वर्षं तप्त्वापि चाच्युतः । न प्राप स्वाभिलषितं सर्वदं शंभुदर्शनम्

Transliteration

divyaṃ dvādaśa sāhasraṃ varṣaṃ taptvāpi cācyutaḥ | na prāpa svābhilaṣitaṃ sarvadaṃ śaṃbhudarśanam

Translation

Even after performing austerities for twelve thousand divine years, Acyuta (Viṣṇu) did not obtain the longed-for vision of Śambhu—the all-bestowing Lord—for Śiva’s revelation is not compelled by effort alone, but is granted by His grace.

Word by Word

• दिव्यम्: divine
• दिव्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (adjective)

• द्वादश: twelve
• द्वादश: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश (संख्याशब्द-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याविशेषणम्; (here) नपुंसकलिङ्ग-द्वितीया-एकवचनस्य विशेषणम्

• साहस्रम्: thousand
• साहस्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; संख्याविशेषणम् (thousand as qualifier)

• वर्षम्: years (a year-period)
• वर्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तप्त्वा: having performed austerity
• तप्त्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वकाले कृत्य (having performed austerity)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अर्थः—'even/also'

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

• अच्युतः: Acyuta (Viṣṇu)
• अच्युतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अच्युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विष्णोः नाम (proper noun)

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

• प्राप: obtained/attained
• प्राप: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्राप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• स्व-अभिलषितम्: desired by himself
• स्व-अभिलषितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिलषित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √लष्/लष्?; here from अभिलष् ‘to desire’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध: 'one's desired')

• सर्वदम्: all-bestowing
• सर्वदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• शंभु-दर्शनम्: the vision of Śambhu (Śiva)
• शंभु-दर्शनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंभु (प्रातिपदिक) + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ('of Śambhu' + 'vision')

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya within the Rudrasaṃhitā narrative)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: divine-year tapas (deva-varṣa scale) emphasizing cosmic time

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It teaches that even the greatest tapas (austerity) cannot force the Divine; Śiva-darśana arises when effort is ripened by devotion and Śambhu’s anugraha (grace), aligning the soul (paśu) toward the Lord (Pati).

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

Śambhu’s “darśana” points to Saguna revelation—Śiva becoming perceivable to the devotee. In Linga-worship, the devotee approaches the accessible form with bhakti; the verse emphasizes that the Linga is not a mere object of ritual but a gateway to grace-bestowed encounter.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Combine disciplined sādhanā (japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” dhyāna, and purity) with humble surrender, seeking Śiva’s grace rather than treating tapas as a transaction; this is the implied corrective to “effort alone.”