Shloka 13

तपसो महिमा

The Greatness and Typology of Tapas

Devanagari script

कामनाफलमुद्दिश्य राजसं तप उच्यते । निजदेहं सुसंपीड्य देहशोषकदुस्सहैः

Transliteration

kāmanāphalamuddiśya rājasaṃ tapa ucyate | nijadehaṃ susaṃpīḍya dehaśoṣakadussahaiḥ

Translation

Austerity performed with the aim of obtaining desired results is called rājasa (passion-driven) tapas. It is undertaken by harshly constraining one’s own body through unbearable practices that emaciate and exhaust it.

Word by Word

• कामनाफलम्: the fruit of desire
• कामनाफलम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कामना + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (कामनायाः फलम्)

• उद्दिश्य: aiming at
• उद्दिश्य: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-दिश् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); ‘aiming at/with a view to’

• राजसम्: rajasic
• राजसम्: Karta-anvayi (कर्तृ/विषयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राजस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying तपः)

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उच्यते: is called
• उच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• निजदेहम्: one’s own body
• निजदेहम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निज + देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (निजः देहः)

• सु: well/very
• सु: Upapada (उपपद/Prefix)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्ग/प्रबलार्थक (intensifier ‘well/very’)

• संपीड्य: having tormented
• संपीड्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-पीड् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); ‘having pressed/tormented’

• देहशोषकदुस्सहैः: by body-drying and unbearable (means)
• देहशोषकदुस्सहैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देहशोषक + दुस्सह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (साधारणतः करणवाचक बहुवचन), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व (देहशोषक + दुस्सह)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (teaching Umā/Parvati in the Umāsaṃhitā discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames desire-motivated tapas as bondage-producing; encourages pilgrims to shift from kāmya-acts to niṣkāmya Śiva-bhakti for true fruit (śuddhi and grace).

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse distinguishes motive-based austerity from liberating discipline: when tapas is driven by personal gain (kāmanā), it remains within rajas and strengthens bondage (pāśa) rather than leading the soul (paśu) toward Shiva (Pati).

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

Linga/Saguna Shiva worship is meant to purify intention through devotion and surrender; this verse warns that even intense practices become spiritually limited when performed as a transaction for results instead of as offering to Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It implies choosing sattvic Shaiva practice—steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), worship with bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and Rudrāksha with humility—over self-tormenting, body-emaciating austerities done for worldly rewards.