Shloka 9

तपसो महिमा

The Greatness and Typology of Tapas

Devanagari script

सात्त्विकं राजसं चैव तामसं त्रिविधं स्मृतम् । विज्ञेयं हि तपो व्यास सर्वसाधनसाधनम्

Transliteration

sāttvikaṃ rājasaṃ caiva tāmasaṃ trividhaṃ smṛtam | vijñeyaṃ hi tapo vyāsa sarvasādhanasādhanam

Translation

Tapas (spiritual austerity) is remembered as threefold—sāttvika, rājasa, and tāmasa. Therefore, O Vyāsa, tapas should be rightly understood, for it is the very instrument that empowers all other spiritual means.

Word by Word

• सात्त्विकम्: sāttvic (pure)
• सात्त्विकम्: विशेष्य-निर्देश (Predicate/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सात्त्विक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; गुणवाचक-विशेषणम्

• राजसम्: rājasic (passionate)
• राजसम्: विशेष्य-निर्देश (Predicate/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राजस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; गुणवाचक-विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• तामसम्: tāmasic (dark)
• तामसम्: विशेष्य-निर्देश (Predicate/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तामस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; गुणवाचक-विशेषणम्

• त्रिविधम्: threefold
• त्रिविधम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—द्विगु (त्रयः विधाः यस्य); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• स्मृतम्: is declared/considered
• स्मृतम्: क्रिया (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; कर्मणि-भावः—‘is said/considered’

• विज्ञेयम्: should be understood
• विज्ञेयम्: विधेय (Predicate obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + √ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—तव्यत्/अनीयर्-अर्थक (gerundive: ‘to be known’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (indeed/for)

• तपः: tapas; austerity
• तपः: कर्म/विषय (Object/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; अत्र विषय/विशेष्य

• व्यास: O Vyāsa
• व्यास: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

• सर्वसाधनसाधनम्: the means of all means
• सर्वसाधनसाधनम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + साधन (प्रातिपदिक) + साधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—तत्पुरुष (सर्वेषां साधनानां साधनम् = means of all means); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; तपः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames tapas under the guṇas: sāttvika tapas tends toward purification and receptivity to anugraha; rājasa/tāmasa bind further—useful as a discernment lens for pilgrims and householders evaluating motives.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vyasa

FAQs

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

It teaches that austerity is not one uniform act: it takes sāttvika, rājasa, or tāmasa forms, and only when understood and purified does tapas become a true support for liberation-oriented practice under Pati (Shiva).

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

Linga-worship and Saguna Shiva devotion become fruitful when supported by sāttvika discipline—self-restraint, purity, and steadiness—so that worship is not driven by rājasa craving for results or tāmasa negligence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt sāttvika tapas alongside Shiva-sādhana—regular japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), disciplined worship, and inner restraint—so the practice becomes a true enabler of all other spiritual means.