Shloka 27

तपसो महिमा

The Greatness and Typology of Tapas

Devanagari script

जानन्नपीह संसारे भ्रमते घटियंत्रवत् । सर्वयोनिषु दुःखार्तस्स्थावरेषु चरेषु च

Transliteration

jānannapīha saṃsāre bhramate ghaṭiyaṃtravat | sarvayoniṣu duḥkhārtassthāvareṣu careṣu ca

Translation

Even though he may possess understanding, in this worldly saṃsāra he still wanders like a water‑wheel mechanism, tormented by suffering in every womb—among the immovable as well as the moving beings.

Word by Word

• जानन्: knowing
• जानन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) → जानत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle)

• अपि: even; also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle: even/also)

• इह: here
• इह: Desha/Adhikarana (देश/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/कालवाचक (adverb: here/in this world)

• संसारे: in worldly existence
• संसारे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• भ्रमते: wanders; roams
• भ्रमते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्रम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• घटि-यन्त्र-वत्: like a clockwork/mechanism
• घटि-यन्त्र-वत्: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घटि (प्रातिपदिक) + यन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: अव्ययवत्-प्रयोग (indeclinable-like simile); तद्धितान्त “-वत्” = “like”; समासः—घटियन्त्रवत् (like a clock/mechanism)

• सर्व-योनिषु: in all births/species
• सर्व-योनिषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; समासः—सर्वयोनि (in all wombs/births)

• दुःख-आर्तः: afflicted by pain
• दुःख-आर्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक) + आर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः—दुःखार्त (afflicted by suffering)

• स्थावरेषु: among immobile beings
• स्थावरेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थावर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (जातिवाचक); सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन

• चरेषु: among mobile beings
• चरेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (जातिवाचक); सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

Speaker

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

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva view that mere intellectual knowing is insufficient: bound by pasha (bondage), the pashu (individual soul) keeps revolving in samsara—experiencing pain across all states of embodiment—until it turns to Pati (Shiva) through right knowledge, devotion, and discipline.

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

The verse underscores the need for a concrete, grace-centered path: worship of Saguna Shiva—especially the Shiva Linga as the accessible form of Pati—stabilizes the mind and redirects the soul from repetitive worldly motion toward Shiva’s liberating grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with daily Shiva-puja (Linga abhisheka), supported by Tripundra (bhasma) and Rudraksha as reminders of vairagya and one-pointedness, aiming to cut the habit of wandering in samsara.