Shloka 2

तपः–मन्त्रजप–ध्यानविधिः

Protocol of Tapas, Mantra-Japa, and Śiva-Dhyāna

Devanagari script

एकपादतलेनैव तिष्ठन्मुनिवरो यथा । सूर्य्ये दृष्टिं निबध्यैकां मंत्रमावर्तयन्स्थितः

Transliteration

ekapādatalenaiva tiṣṭhanmunivaro yathā | sūryye dṛṣṭiṃ nibadhyaikāṃ maṃtramāvartayansthitaḥ

Translation

Like an eminent sage, he stood balanced on the sole of one foot; fixing his single-pointed gaze upon the sun, he remained steady, continuously repeating the mantra.

Word by Word

• eka-pāda-talena: with the sole of one foot
• eka-pāda-talena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eka (संख्याप्रातिपदिक) + pāda (प्रातिपदिक) + tala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (tala), Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (एकस्य पादस्य तलम्)

• eva: only/indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, avadhāraṇa-nipāta (अवधारण)

• tiṣṭhan: standing
• tiṣṭhan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (स्था धातु)
• Form: Vartamāna-kṛdanta (वर्तमानकृदन्त), Śatṛ-pratyaya (शतृ), Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; ‘standing’ (present active participle)

• muni-varaḥ: the excellent sage
• muni-varaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; समासः—कर्मधारयः (वरः मुनिः)

• yathā: as/like
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, upamā/vidhi-arthaka (यथा = ‘as/like’)

• sūrye: in/at the sun
• sūrye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana

• dṛṣṭim: gaze/vision
• dṛṣṭim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• nibadhya: having fixed
• nibadhya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni+bandh (बन्ध् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), ‘having fixed/bound’

• ekām: single/one-pointed
• ekām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; विशेषणम् (dṛṣṭim)

• mantram: mantra
• mantram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• āvartayan: repeating
• āvartayan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā+vṛt (वृत् धातु)
• Form: Vartamāna-kṛdanta, Śatṛ, Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; ‘repeating/reciting’

• sthitaḥ: remaining/steadfast
• sthitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (स्था धातु)
• Form: Bhūta-kṛdanta (भूतकृदन्त), Kta-pratyaya (क्त), Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; ‘stood/remaining’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Surya

FAQs

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

It highlights tapas as disciplined yoga: bodily steadiness, one-pointed concentration, and mantra-japa—means by which the bound soul (paśu) is purified and oriented toward Shiva (Pati) for grace and liberation.

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

Though the gaze is fixed on the sun as a support for concentration, the practice is fundamentally mantra-centered, aligning the mind to Saguna Shiva through japa; such steadiness prepares the devotee for Linga-upasana where form supports the formless truth.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Single-pointed dhyana with continuous mantra repetition (japa), supported by firm posture (standing on one foot); it can be paired with Shaiva japa such as the Panchakshara and accompanied by Tripundra bhasma and rudraksha as traditional aids.