Shloka 29

तपसो महिमा

The Greatness and Typology of Tapas

Devanagari script

व्युत्क्रमेणापि मानुष्यं प्राप्यते पुण्यगौरवात् । विचित्रा गतयः प्रोक्ताः कर्मणां गुरुलाघवात्

Transliteration

vyutkrameṇāpi mānuṣyaṃ prāpyate puṇyagauravāt | vicitrā gatayaḥ proktāḥ karmaṇāṃ gurulāghavāt

Translation

Even by an irregular course, one may attain a human birth because of the weight and dignity of merit. Thus the destinies of beings are declared to be manifold, according to the heaviness or lightness of their actions (karma).

Word by Word

• व्युत्क्रमेण: by reversal; by an exceptional course
• व्युत्क्रमेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्युत्क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण/प्रकार (by reverse order/exceptional course)

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

• मानुष्यम्: human birth/state
• मानुष्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानुष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• प्राप्यते: is obtained
• प्राप्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive); आत्मनेपद

• पुण्य-गौरवात्: due to the greatness of merit
• पुण्य-गौरवात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + गौरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; हेतु/अपादान (from/owing to the weight of merit)

• विचित्राः: varied; diverse
• विचित्राः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• गतयः: courses; destinies
• गतयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• प्रोक्ताः: are said; have been declared
• प्रोक्ताः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle)

• कर्मणाम्: of actions (karmas)
• कर्मणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• गुरु-लाघवात्: due to (their) heaviness or lightness
• गुरु-लाघवात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + लाघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; द्वन्द्वः—गुरुलाघव (heaviness and lightness)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

FAQs

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

It teaches that the soul’s next state is governed by the relative “weight” of its karma—merit can elevate one even when the karmic path is mixed—highlighting the urgency of using human birth to turn toward Shiva and liberation.

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

Since destinies vary by karma, Linga-worship and devotion to Saguna Shiva function as purifying, merit-generating disciplines that lighten binding karmas (pāśa) and orient the soul (paśu) toward Pati, Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Strengthen punya and refine karma through daily japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), reverent Linga-pūjā with bhasma (Tripuṇḍra), and steady dhyāna—so the karmic burden becomes lighter and more sattvic.