Shloka 3

तपः–मन्त्रजप–ध्यानविधिः

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

Devanagari script

तपस्तेपेति संप्रीत्या संस्मरन्मनसा शिवम् । पंचाक्षरं मनुं शंभोर्जपन्सर्वो त्तमोत्तमम्

Transliteration

tapastepeti saṃprītyā saṃsmaranmanasā śivam | paṃcākṣaraṃ manuṃ śaṃbhorjapansarvo ttamottamam

Translation

With heartfelt joy he undertook austerities, inwardly remembering Lord Śiva; and he kept chanting Śambhu’s five-syllabled mantra—supremely excellent above all that is excellent.

Word by Word

• tapaḥ: austerity
• tapaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; (उक्तिविषयः)

• tepe: performed (austerity)
• tepe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tap (तप् धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd/प्रथम), Ekavacana; Parasmaipada

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, quotative particle (इति-वाचक)

• saṃprītyā: with great delight
• saṃprītyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃprīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; हेतौ/साधनार्थे (by/with joy)

• saṃsmaran: remembering
• saṃsmaran: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam+smṛ (स्मृ धातु)
• Form: Vartamāna-kṛdanta, Śatṛ, Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; ‘remembering’

• manasā: with the mind
• manasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana

• śivam: Śiva
• śivam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• pañca-akṣaram: five-syllabled
• pañca-akṣaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañca (संख्याप्रातिपदिक) + akṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; समासः—द्विगुः (पञ्चानि अक्षराणि यस्य/पञ्चाक्षरम्)

• manum: the sacred formula (mantra)
• manum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; मन्त्रविशेषः

• śambhoḥ: of Śambhu (Śiva)
• śambhoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śambhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th/षष्ठी), Ekavacana

• japan: reciting
• japan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jap (जप् धातु)
• Form: Vartamāna-kṛdanta, Śatṛ, Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; ‘muttering/reciting’

• sarvaḥ: entirely/fully (he)
• sarvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; विशेषणम् (munivaraḥ implied)

• uttama-uttamam: the best of the best (supremely excellent)
• uttama-uttamam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; समासः—कर्मधारयः (उत्तमानाम् उत्तमम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: नमः शिवाय (Namaḥ Śivāya)

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva-realization arises from a unified discipline: tapas (self-purifying austerity), smaraṇa/dhyāna (inner remembrance), and japa of the pañcākṣarī—considered the highest, most direct means to Śiva’s grace and liberation in a Shaiva Siddhanta framing.

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

Remembering Śiva in the mind and repeating His mantra supports Saguna upāsanā—devotion to Śiva with attributes and form (often centered on the Liṅga). The mantra-japa becomes the inner worship that complements outer Liṅga-pūjā, leading the devotee toward the deeper reality of Pati (Śiva).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Pañcākṣarī-mantra japa with mental remembrance (dhyāna) alongside tapas—practically, steady daily repetition of “Namaḥ Śivāya” (often with rudrākṣa mālā and purity disciplines), keeping the mind fixed on Śiva.