Shloka 53

पानीयदान-प्रपादान-वापीकूपतडाग-निर्माण-प्रशंसा

Praise of Water-Gift and the Construction of Wells and Tanks

Devanagari script

विश्वामित्रो गाधिसुतस्तपसैव महामुने । क्षत्रियोऽथाभवद्विप्रः प्रसिद्धं त्रिभवेत्विदम्

Transliteration

viśvāmitro gādhisutastapasaiva mahāmune | kṣatriyo'thābhavadvipraḥ prasiddhaṃ tribhavetvidam

Translation

O great sage, Viśvāmitra, the son of Gādhi, by austerity (tapas) alone became a brāhmaṇa though born a kṣatriya—this is renowned in all the three worlds.

Word by Word

• viśvāmitraḥ: Viśvāmitra
• viśvāmitraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśvāmitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• gādhi-sutaḥ: son of Gādhi
• gādhi-sutaḥ: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gādhi (प्रातिपदिक) + suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (gādheḥ sutaḥ)

• tapasā: by austerity
• tapasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक

• mahā-mune: O great sage
• mahā-mune: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (mahān muniḥ)

• kṣatriyaḥ: a kṣatriya
• kṣatriyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣatriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भार्थक (then/now)

• abhavat: became
• abhavat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• vipraḥ: a brāhmaṇa/sage
• vipraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• prasiddham: well-known
• prasiddham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prasiddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• tri-bhavet: would become threefold
• tri-bhavet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक) + √bhū (धातु)
• Form: लोट्/विधिलिङ्-सम्भाव्य; विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्ग/संख्या-पूर्वपद (tri- = 'threefold')

• idam: this
• idam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Vishvamitra
• Gadhi

FAQs

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

It teaches that spiritual attainment is determined by tapas (disciplined inner striving) and purity of consciousness, not merely by birth—showing the soul’s capacity to rise beyond bondage (pāśa) toward Shiva (Pati).

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

Tapas in the Shiva Purana is commonly fulfilled by focused worship of Saguna Shiva—often through Linga-upāsanā—where steady devotion and self-restraint transform the devotee’s nature and grant higher spiritual qualification.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Undertake disciplined tapas: daily japa of the Panchākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), regulated conduct, and meditative steadiness; such sustained practice is the implied means of inner elevation.