Shloka 7

Devanagari script

तापसोऽयं महाभागे दृश्यन्तीगर्भसंभवः । तितीर्षुरस्ति मर्धाब्धिश्चतुराम्नायपारगः

Transliteration

tāpaso'yaṃ mahābhāge dṛśyantīgarbhasaṃbhavaḥ | titīrṣurasti mardhābdhiścaturāmnāyapāragaḥ

Translation

O most fortunate lady, this ascetic—born from the womb of Dṛśyantī—seeks to cross the ocean of worldly turmoil; he has mastered the four sacred transmissions and stands steadfast in austerity.

Word by Word

• तापसः: an ascetic
• तापसः: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāpasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom. sg.)

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom. sg.), तापसस्य विशेषणम्

• महाभागे: O fortunate lady
• महाभागे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (महा, प्रातिपदिक) + bhāga (भाग, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहिसमास, स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), सम्बोधन एकवचन (Voc. sg.), ‘महाभागा’ इति संबोधनम्

• दृश्यन्ती-गर्भ-सम्भवः: born from Dṛśyantī’s womb
• दृश्यन्ती-गर्भ-सम्भवः: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dṛśyantī (दृश्यन्ती, प्रातिपदिक) + garbha (गर्भ, प्रातिपदिक) + sambhava (सम्भव, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: दृश्यन्त्याः गर्भसम्भवः), पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom. sg.), तापसस्य विशेषणम्

• तितीर्षुः: desiring to cross
• तितीर्षुः: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tṛ (धातु √tṝ ‘cross’) + san (सन्, desiderative) + u (उ)
• Form: देशिदेरटिव (desiderative) कृदन्त ‘तितीर्षु’ (desirous to cross), पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom. sg.)

• अस्ति: is
• अस्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु √as ‘be’)
• Form: लट् (Present, लट्-लकार), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (sg.), परस्मैपद

• मर्ध-अब्धिः: ocean-like (in greatness)
• मर्ध-अब्धिः: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mardha (मर्ध, प्रातिपदिक) + abdhi (अब्दि, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास, पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom. sg.), उपमान/विशेषणार्थः ‘समुद्रसदृशः’

• चतुराम्नायपारगः: knower of the four Vedic traditions
• चतुराम्नायपारगः: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: catur (चतुर्, संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + āmnāya (आम्नाय, प्रातिपदिक) + pāraga (पारग, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (द्विगु-पूर्वपद: चतुराम्नाय + पारग), पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom. sg.), ‘चतुराम्नायेषु पारगः’

Speaker

A narrator/attendant speaking to Umā (Pārvatī) within the Umāsaṃhitā dialogue frame

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the ‘crossing the ocean of turmoil’ functions as a soteriological metaphor rather than a site legend.

Significance: Inner pilgrimage: ‘saṃsāra-sāgara-taraṇa’ through knowledge (āmnāya mastery) and tapas—ultimately requiring Śiva’s anugraha in Siddhānta framing.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse presents the Shaiva ideal of liberation: an aspirant seeks to cross the turbulent ocean of saṃsāra by tapas (disciplined practice) supported by śāstric mastery, pointing to Pati (Śiva) as the ultimate shore beyond bondage.

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

Though the verse highlights ascetic discipline and Vedic learning, its aim—crossing saṃsāra—aligns with Saguna Śiva worship (Liṅga, mantra, pūjā) as practical upāya, culminating in the grace of Śiva, the Lord (Pati) who frees the bound soul (paśu) from bonds (pāśa).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It implies tapas with steady sādhanā: daily mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), meditation on Śiva, and disciplined observances—often accompanied in Shaiva practice by bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as aids to remembrance and restraint.