Shloka 63

पिप्पलादावतारकथनम्

Account of the Pippalāda Avatāra

Devanagari script

अथ रुद्रः पिप्पलादोऽश्वत्थमूले महाप्रभुः । तताप सुचिरं कालं लोकानां हितकाम्यया

Transliteration

atha rudraḥ pippalādo'śvatthamūle mahāprabhuḥ | tatāpa suciraṃ kālaṃ lokānāṃ hitakāmyayā

Translation

Then Rudra—Pippalāda, the Great Lord—performed austere tapas at the root of the sacred aśvattha tree for a very long time, desiring the welfare of all the worlds.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आरम्भसूचक/अनन्तरार्थक (indeclinable; then/now)

• रुद्रः: Rudra
• रुद्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पिप्पलादः: Pippalāda
• पिप्पलादः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिप्पलाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; रुद्रस्य विशेषणरूपेण (appositional)

• अश्वत्थमूले: at the root of the aśvattha tree
• अश्वत्थमूले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वत्थ-मूल (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अश्वत्थस्य मूलम्)

• महाप्रभुः: the great lord
• महाप्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् प्रभुः)

• तताप: performed austerity / did penance
• तताप: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सुचिरम्: for a very long (time)
• सुचिरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुचिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कालम् इति विशेषणम्

• कालम्: time
• कालम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कालपरिमाणार्थे

• लोकानाम्: of the worlds / of people
• लोकानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• हितकाम्यया: with the desire for (their) welfare
• हितकाम्यया: Hetu (हेतु/निमित्त)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित-काम्य (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (हितस्य काम्या—wishing welfare)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The aśvattha-mūla tapas motif frames Rudra-Pippalāda as a benefactor of worlds; while not a Jyotirliṅga origin, it resonates with sacred-tree and sthala motifs where tapas generates a locus of grace.

Significance: Aśvattha-root tapas signifies stability and longevity of sādhanā; inspires pilgrimage to sacred trees/śiva-sthānas where tapas is remembered as world-welfare (lokahita).

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Pippalada

FAQs

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

It presents Rudra’s tapas as compassionate, world-sustaining discipline (loka-hita), showing that Shiva’s power and grace arise not from personal need but from benevolence toward all beings.

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

Rudra appearing as Pippalāda is Saguna Shiva—an accessible form who performs sacred austerity in a holy place; devotees similarly approach Shiva through form (Linga, mantra, vrata) to receive grace that uplifts their lives and supports cosmic order.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse points to sustained tapas: daily japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), meditation in a sanctified spot (like beneath an aśvattha), and living for loka-hita—offering one’s practice for the welfare of all.