Shloka 24

तपसो महिमा

The Greatness and Typology of Tapas

Devanagari script

हेमभारस्तथा ताम्रं गृहाश्च रत्नधेनवः । पांडित्यं वेदशास्त्राणां गीतनृत्यविभूषणम्

Transliteration

hemabhārastathā tāmraṃ gṛhāśca ratnadhenavaḥ | pāṃḍityaṃ vedaśāstrāṇāṃ gītanṛtyavibhūṣaṇam

Translation

He granted loads of gold and also copper; houses and jewel-like, wish-fulfilling cows; mastery of the Vedas and śāstras, and the adornment of accomplishment in singing and dance.

Word by Word

• hema-bhāraḥ: a load of gold
• hema-bhāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hema (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः ‘हेमस्य भारः’

• tathā: also
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Connector/adverb (समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय)

• tāmram: copper
• tāmram: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāmra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• gṛhāḥ: houses
• gṛhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग) (also occurs as neuter in sg), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• ratna-dhenavaḥ: gem(-adorned) cows
• ratna-dhenavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratna (प्रातिपदिक) + dhenu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); तत्पुरुषः ‘रत्नयुक्ताः धेनवः’ / ‘रत्नानां धेनवः’ (cows associated with gems)

• pāṇḍityam: scholarship/learning
• pāṇḍityam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāṇḍitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• veda-śāstrāṇām: of the Vedas and scriptures
• veda-śāstrāṇām: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक) + śāstra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः ‘वेदानां च शास्त्राणां च’

• gīta-nṛtya-vibhūṣaṇam: adornment in song and dance
• gīta-nṛtya-vibhūṣaṇam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gīta (प्रातिपदिक) + nṛtya (प्रातिपदिक) + vibhūṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः ‘गीत-नृत्ययोः विभूषणम्’ (ornament/embellishment in singing and dancing)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Highlights that even ‘good’ worldly gifts (wealth, learning, arts) can function as pāśa if they inflate ahaṃkāra; pilgrimage/worship is implied as reorientation toward Śiva as the true giver.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse lists worldly and cultural attainments as gifts arising from Shiva’s grace, implying that prosperity, learning, and artistry are ultimately subordinate to Pati (Shiva), the giver; true fulfillment is to use such gains in dharma and devotion rather than bondage.

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

In Saguna worship—especially Linga-pūjā—devotees approach Shiva as the compassionate Lord who bestows both bhoga (enjoyments) and, when sought, liberation; this verse reflects the bhoga-side of grace, which should culminate in deeper surrender to Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice Shiva-bhakti with charity (dāna) and right use of wealth; accompany worship with mantra-japa (especially the Panchākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and offer one’s talents (learning, music, arts) as seva to Shiva.