Shloka 34

Gṛhapati’s Vow: Turning Grief into Mṛtyuñjaya–Mahākāla Sādhana (गृहपतेः प्रतिज्ञा—मृत्युंजय-महाकालजपः)

Devanagari script

एवं वर्षवयस्तस्य व्यतिक्रान्तं महात्मनः । शिवैकमनसो विप्रास्तप्यमानस्य नारद

Transliteration

evaṃ varṣavayastasya vyatikrāntaṃ mahātmanaḥ | śivaikamanaso viprāstapyamānasya nārada

Translation

Thus, O Nārada, the years of that great-souled one passed by while he performed austerities—O brāhmaṇas—his mind fixed solely on Śiva.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: प्रकार (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• वर्षवयः: the years and age
• वर्षवयः: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + वयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व (समाहार): वर्षं च वयश्च (years and age)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• व्यतिक्रान्तम्: passed/elapsed
• व्यतिक्रान्तम्: कर्मविशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + अति + क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; √क्रम् (to pass) with उपसर्ग vi+ati

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled one
• महात्मनः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: महान् आत्मा यस्य

• शिवैकमनसः: of him whose mind is fixed only on Śiva
• शिवैकमनसः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + एक (प्रातिपदिक) + मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: शिवे एकं मनः यस्य (whose mind is solely on Śiva)

• विप्राः: O brāhmaṇas
• विप्राः: सम्बोधन/कर्ता (Addressed/possible subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• तप्यमानस्य: of (him) performing austerities
• तप्यमानस्य: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु)
• Form: शानच्/यमान (present passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; √तप् (to do austerity / to be heated)

• नारद: O Nārada
• नारद: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Śivaikamanas (single-minded fixation on Śiva) is a hallmark of bhakti that, in Siddhānta, ripens the soul for Śiva’s anugraha; the verse frames tapas as sustained over years, emphasizing perseverance as a purifier of pāśa.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Narada

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva ideal that sustained tapas becomes fruitful when the mind is made one-pointed in Śiva (Pati), indicating inner purification and readiness for Śiva’s grace.

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

By stressing “Śiva alone in the mind,” the verse supports Saguna-focused devotion—mentally abiding in Śiva (often through Linga-dhyāna) as a concrete support for concentration and grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Single-minded Śiva-dhyāna supported by japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as a practical form of tapas; optionally reinforced by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as Shaiva disciplines.