Shloka 18

Svagati-varṇana

Description of the Supreme State / One’s True Attainment

Devanagari script

तपःस्थो रुद्रपार्श्वस्थं दृष्टवानहमव्यम् । गुह्यमस्त्रं परं चास्य न तुल्यमधिकं क्वचित्

Transliteration

tapaḥstho rudrapārśvasthaṃ dṛṣṭavānahamavyam | guhyamastraṃ paraṃ cāsya na tulyamadhikaṃ kvacit

Translation

While absorbed in austerities, I beheld the imperishable One standing at Rudra’s side. I also perceived His supreme, secret divine power (astra); nowhere is there anything equal to it, much less anything greater.

Word by Word

• तपःस्थः: abiding in austerity
• तपःस्थः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तपस्-स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः: तपः-स्थ (तत्पुरुषः: ‘तपसि स्थितः’—situated in austerity)

• रुद्र: Rudra
• रुद्र: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, समासपूर्वपद

• पार्श्वस्थम्: standing at Rudra’s side
• पार्श्वस्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पार्श्व-स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः: रुद्र-पार्श्व-स्थम् (तत्पुरुषः: ‘रुद्रस्य पार्श्वे स्थितम्’—standing at Rudra’s side)

• दृष्टवान्: (I) saw
• दृष्टवान्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + क्तवत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्तवत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (perfect participle/agentive past), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगः; ‘अहम्’ इत्यस्य क्रियापदवत्

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

• अव्यम्: imperishable/unchanging
• अव्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of अस्त्रम् understood/implicit)

• गुह्यम्: secret
• गुह्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अस्त्रम्: weapon
• अस्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• अस्य: of this/of him
• अस्य: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय

• तुल्यम्: equal
• तुल्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicative)

• अधिकम्: greater
• अधिकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तुलनाबोधक विशेषण

• क्वचित्: anywhere/ever
• क्वचित्: Deśa-kāla-viśeṣaṇa (देश-काल-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/कालवाचक अव्यय (indefinite adverb)

Speaker

Brahma (narrating his direct realization in the Umāsaṃhitā’s philosophical discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; it is a revelation scene: Brahmā, in tapas, beholds the imperishable Lord near Rudra and apprehends a ‘guhya’ supreme astra (esoteric power).

Significance: Models the Siddhānta path: tapas/discipline and right knowledge culminate in grace-bestowed insight into Śiva’s supreme śakti that cuts pāśa (bondage).

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra

FAQs

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

It teaches that through tapas (disciplined austerity), one gains direct vision of the imperishable Supreme associated with Rudra, realizing a transcendent power that is incomparable—pointing to Shiva as Pati, the unsurpassed liberating reality.

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

Seeing the Supreme ‘at Rudra’s side’ supports Saguna upāsanā: the seeker approaches the ineffable (imperishable) through Rudra’s manifest presence—classically represented in Shiva worship through the Linga as a concrete support for realizing the highest.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse emphasizes tapas and inner contemplation; practically, it aligns with steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) alongside Shaiva disciplines like bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and focused meditation on Rudra as the doorway to the supreme.