Shloka 43

Devanagari script

नातप्ततपसो यांति ब्रह्मलोकं कदाचन । नातप्ततपसां प्राप्यश्शंकरः परमेश्वरः

Transliteration

nātaptatapaso yāṃti brahmalokaṃ kadācana | nātaptatapasāṃ prāpyaśśaṃkaraḥ parameśvaraḥ

Translation

Those who have not undertaken tapas (austerity) never reach Brahmaloka. For those who have not practiced tapas, Śaṅkara—the Supreme Lord—is likewise unattainable.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• आतप्ततपसः: of those who have performed austerity
• आतप्ततपसः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ-तप् (धातु) + तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुषः — ‘of those whose austerity is performed’ (आतप्त = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त from आ-तप् used adjectivally)

• यान्ति: go
• यान्ति: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ब्रह्मलोकम्: Brahmā’s world
• ब्रह्मलोकम्: कर्म (Karma/Object/Goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुषः — ‘world of Brahmā’

• कदाचन: ever, at any time
• कदाचन: कालाधिकरण (Time adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचन (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• आतप्ततपसाम्: of those who have performed austerity
• आतप्ततपसाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ-तप् (धातु) + तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुषः — ‘of those who have performed austerity’

• प्राप्य: having attained
• प्राप्य: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal) — ‘having attained/obtained’

• शंकरः: Śaṅkara
• शंकरः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular)

• परमेश्वरः: the Supreme Lord
• परमेश्वरः: सम्बोधन/विधेय (Apposition/predicate to Śaṅkara)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारयः — ‘the supreme lord’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s doctrine as preserved in the Umāsaṃhitā)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shankara
• Parameshvara
• Brahma
• Brahmaloka

FAQs

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

It teaches that higher attainments—whether Brahmaloka or the direct realization of Parameśvara Śiva—require tapas (disciplined spiritual effort) that purifies the soul and loosens the bonds (pāśa) obscuring Shiva.

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

Linga-worship is not merely external; it must be supported by tapas such as vrata (vows), restraint, and steady japa. Without inner discipline, the devotee does not truly ‘attain’ Śaṅkara even while performing ritual worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt tapas through vrata (fasting on Mahāśivarātri or Mondays), Panchākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and regular meditation with purity and self-restraint; these are the practical forms of austerity implied.