Shloka 38
पानीयदान-प्रपादान-वापीकूपतडाग-निर्माण-प्रशंसा
Praise of Water-Gift and the Construction of Wells and Tanks
सनत्कुमार उवाच । प्रवक्ष्यामि तपोऽध्यायं सर्व कामार्थसाधकम् । सुदुश्चरं द्विजातीनां तन्मे निगदतः शृणु
sanatkumāra uvāca | pravakṣyāmi tapo'dhyāyaṃ sarva kāmārthasādhakam | suduścaraṃ dvijātīnāṃ tanme nigadataḥ śṛṇu
Sanatkumāra said: “I shall expound the chapter on tapas—the discipline of austerity that fulfills every rightful desire and every human aim. Though it is exceedingly hard to practice for the twice-born, listen as I proclaim it.”
Sanatkumara
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
The verse introduces tapas as a purifying discipline that refines the soul (paśu) and loosens bondage (pāśa), preparing one for Shiva’s grace (Pati). It frames spiritual effort as purposeful, yet demanding, and worthy of attentive listening.
Tapas in the Shiva Purana commonly supports Saguna Shiva worship—steadiness in vows, purity, and focused devotion that culminate in effective pūjā and contemplation of the Linga as Shiva’s accessible form, leading the devotee toward deeper realization.
The verse signals the beginning of a regimen of austerity and disciplined practice—typically including regulated conduct, mantra-japa (often the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and meditative restraint—though specific items like bhasma or rudrākṣa are not named in this shloka.