Shloka 13

Svagati-varṇana

Description of the Supreme State / One’s True Attainment

Devanagari script

तपःस्थोऽहं समद्राक्षं शंकरं च तदायुधान् । परिवारं समस्तं च विष्ण्वादीनमरादिकान्

Transliteration

tapaḥstho'haṃ samadrākṣaṃ śaṃkaraṃ ca tadāyudhān | parivāraṃ samastaṃ ca viṣṇvādīnamarādikān

Translation

While I was established in austerity, I beheld Śaṅkara along with His divine weapons and His entire retinue—as well as Viṣṇu and the other gods and celestial beings.

Word by Word

• तपःस्थः: abiding in austerity
• तपःस्थः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तपः-स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष (तपसि स्थितः)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सम्: completely/together (prefix)
• सम्: Verb-modifier (उपसर्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग (preverb)

• अद्राक्षम्: I saw
• अद्राक्षम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लुङ्-लकार, उत्तम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• शंकरम्: Śaṅkara
• शंकरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तत्: those/that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (pointing to following noun)

• आयुधान्: weapons
• आयुधान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• परिवारम्: retinue
• परिवारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिवार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• समस्तम्: entire
• समस्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying परिवारम्)

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• विष्ण्वादीन्: Viṣṇu and others
• विष्ण्वादीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु-आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (विष्णुः आदिः येषाम्)

• अमरादिकान्: the gods and the rest
• अमरादिकान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमर-आदि-क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (अमराः आदयः येषाम्); विशेषणम् (qualifying विष्ण्वादीन्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: A darśana scene: during tapas, Upamanyu beholds Śaṅkara with weapons and full retinue, with Viṣṇu and other devas present—typical of Purāṇic theophany rather than a Jyotirliṅga origin.

Significance: Darśana of Śiva during tapas signifies successful sādhana and the onset of grace; the presence of Viṣṇu and devas underscores Śiva’s overlordship and the integrative hierarchy of the pantheon.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that steadfast tapas (disciplined spiritual effort) culminates in Śiva-darśana—grace-filled revelation of Pati (Śiva) as the supreme Lord, witnessed along with His śakti, retinue, and the reverence of other devas.

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

Seeing Śaṅkara “with His weapons and retinue” emphasizes Saguna Śiva—God with attributes—who is approachable through worship (including Liṅga-upāsanā) and who grants direct experiential confirmation of devotion through darśana.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is sustained tapas supported by japa and dhyāna—classically centered on the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya)—as the inner discipline that ripens into Śiva’s grace and vision.