Shloka 31

तपसो महिमा

The Greatness and Typology of Tapas

Devanagari script

देवासुराणां सर्वेषां मानुष्यं चाति दुर्लभं । तत्संप्राप्य तथा कुर्यान्न गच्छेन्नरकं यथा

Transliteration

devāsurāṇāṃ sarveṣāṃ mānuṣyaṃ cāti durlabhaṃ | tatsaṃprāpya tathā kuryānna gacchennarakaṃ yathā

Translation

For all beings—whether gods or asuras—human birth is exceedingly rare. Having attained it, one should live and act in such a way that one does not fall into hell.

Word by Word

• देवासुराणाम्: of gods and demons
• देवासुराणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Genitive, Plural; द्वन्द्व-समास (देवाश्च असुराश्च)

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Genitive, Plural (agreeing with देवासुराणाम्)

• मानुष्यं: human birth/state
• मानुष्यं: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानुष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अति: very
• अति: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अति (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग/अव्यय (intensifier/adverb)

• दुर्लभम्: rare to obtain
• दुर्लभम्: Viśeṣya-dharma (विशेष्य-धर्म/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Nominative, Singular (predicate adjective of मानुष्यं)

• तत्: that (human birth)
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular (refers to मानुष्यं)

• संप्राप्य: having attained
• संप्राप्य: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-प्र-√आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकाल; having obtained

• तथा: thus/in such a manner
• तथा: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्यर्थ-अव्यय (adverb: in such a way)

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Parasmaipada

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

• गच्छेत्: should go
• गच्छेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Parasmaipada

• नरकम्: to hell
• नरकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• यथा: so that/as
• यथा: Upamā/Prayojana-bodha (उपमा/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (as/so that)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana teachings to the sages in the Uma Samhita discourse context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Asuras
• Naraka

FAQs

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

It declares human birth as a rare opportunity even for devas and asuras, urging one to use it for dharmic living and Shiva-oriented spiritual progress so that karmic downfall (narka) is avoided.

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

In Shaiva practice, the ‘right way of living’ implied here is supported by Saguna Shiva worship—Linga-puja, mantra-japa, and devotion—which purify karma and keep the mind aligned with Shiva, preventing descent into harmful actions and their results.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily Shiva-smarana with Panchakshara japa ("Om Namah Shivaya"), along with disciplined conduct (yama-like restraints); if following Shiva Purana customs, add Tripundra (bhasma) and rudraksha as reminders of restraint and purity.