Shloka 54

तपसो महिमा

The Greatness and Typology of Tapas

Devanagari script

तस्माद्विवर्द्धयेद्भक्तिमीश्वरे सततं बुधः । शिवभक्त्या महाप्राज्ञ भुक्तिं मुक्तिं च विंदति

Transliteration

tasmādvivarddhayedbhaktimīśvare satataṃ budhaḥ | śivabhaktyā mahāprājña bhuktiṃ muktiṃ ca viṃdati

Translation

Therefore, the wise should ever cultivate devotion to the Lord. O greatly discerning one, through devotion to Śiva one attains both worldly enjoyment (bhukti) and liberation (mukti).

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात् इति तद्धित-निपातवत्; पञ्चमी-एकवचन-रूपेण हेत्वर्थे (ablative used adverbially) = therefore/from that reason

• विवर्धयेत्: should increase
• विवर्धयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृध् (धातु) णिच् (causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; णिजन्त ‘विवर्धय’ = should increase

• भक्तिम्: devotion
• भक्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ईश्वरे: in/for the Lord
• ईश्वरे: Adhikaraṇa/Viṣaya (अधिकरण/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण/विषय), एकवचन

• सततम्: constantly
• सततम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्ययीभाव (adverbial accusative) = always/constantly

• बुधः: the wise person
• बुधः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शिवभक्त्या: by devotion to Śiva
• शिवभक्त्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (शिवे भक्तिः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• महाप्राज्ञ: O greatly wise one
• महाप्राज्ञ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + प्राज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महान् प्राज्ञः); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (vocative), एकवचन

• भुक्तिम्: worldly enjoyment/prosperity
• भुक्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मुक्तिम्: liberation
• मुक्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• विन्दति: finds/attains
• विन्दति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames bhakti as the practical path yielding both abhyudaya (bhukti) and niḥśreyasa (mukti); pilgrimage becomes fruitful when grounded in sustained devotion.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ishvara

FAQs

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

It teaches that steady Śiva-bhakti is the direct means to grace, yielding both righteous well-being in life (bhukti) and final release from bondage (mukti), aligning with the Śaiva view of Pati (Śiva) as the liberator of the bound soul.

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

By urging constant devotion to Īśvara, it supports Saguna worship—such as reverence to Śiva in the form of the Liṅga—as a practical focus for sustained bhakti that culminates in liberation through Śiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse emphasizes continual bhakti; a standard takeaway is daily Śiva-upāsanā such as japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), along with regular Liṅga-pūjā as a steady devotional discipline.