Shloka 1

तपसो महिमा

The Greatness and Typology of Tapas

Devanagari script

व्यास उवाच । सनत्कुमार सर्वज्ञ तत्प्राप्तिं वद सत्तम । यद्गत्वा न निवर्तंते शिवभक्तियुता नराः

Transliteration

vyāsa uvāca | sanatkumāra sarvajña tatprāptiṃ vada sattama | yadgatvā na nivartaṃte śivabhaktiyutā narāḥ

Translation

Vyāsa said: “O Sanatkumāra, all-knowing one, best among the virtuous—tell me the means of attaining That, the supreme state; reaching it, men endowed with devotion to Śiva do not return again to worldly bondage.”

Word by Word

• व्यासः: Vyāsa
• व्यासः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• सनत्कुमार: O Sanatkumāra
• सनत्कुमार: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनत् + कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• सर्वज्ञ: O all-knowing one
• सर्वज्ञ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• तत्: of that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-सम्बन्धार्थे (genitival sense), एकवचन; ‘उस/उसकी’ (of that)

• प्राप्तिम्: attainment
• प्राप्तिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• वद: tell
• वद: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• सत्तम: O best (of the good)
• सत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् + तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; उत्तम-विशेषण (superlative)

• यत्: which (state/goal)
• यत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• गत्वा: having gone (attained)
• गत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वक्रिया/preceding action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having gone’

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• निवर्तन्ते: return
• निवर्तन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), आत्मनेपद

• शिवभक्तियुताः: endowed with devotion to Śiva
• शिवभक्तियुताः: Karta (कर्ता; qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिवभक्ति + युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• नराः: men/people
• नराः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन

Speaker

Vyasa

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not tied to a specific shrine; it introduces the mokṣa-question: the upāya to attain ‘That’ state from which Śiva-bhaktas do not return.

Significance: Articulates the pilgrim’s ultimate aim (apunarāvṛtti). In Siddhānta terms, it points to Śiva’s grace culminating in liberation beyond rebirth.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sanatkumara
• Vyasa

FAQs

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

It frames the central Shaiva goal: the “non-return” state (moksha) attained through Śiva-bhakti, where the soul is freed from pāśa (bondage) and no longer cycles through saṃsāra.

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

Vyāsa asks for the practical means to reach the supreme state; in the Shiva Purana this is commonly taught through Saguna worship—especially Śiva-liṅga devotion, mantra, and disciplined conduct—leading the devotee toward realization of Śiva as Pati (the Lord).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse points to a path centered on Śiva-bhakti; typical Shiva Purana practices aligned with this include japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), liṅga-pūjā, and observances such as bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as supports for steady devotion.