Shloka 31

शक्तितत्त्ववर्णनम् / Exposition of the Principle of Śakti

Devanagari script

तपसा विविधैश्शैवैर्धर्मैस्संयुज्यते नरः । तत्र योगे तदभ्यासस्ततो भक्तिः परा भवेत्

Transliteration

tapasā vividhaiśśaivairdharmaissaṃyujyate naraḥ | tatra yoge tadabhyāsastato bhaktiḥ parā bhavet

Translation

Through austerity a person becomes endowed with the many Shaiva duties and disciplines. From that arises Yoga and its steady practice; and from that practice, supreme devotion (parā-bhakti) comes to be.

Word by Word

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• विविधैः: various
• विविधैः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन (Plural), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); विशेषणम् (qualifying 'धर्मैः')

• शैवैः: Śaiva
• शैवैः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन (Plural), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); विशेषणम् (qualifying 'धर्मैः')

• धर्मैः: by practices/duties
• धर्मैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन (Plural), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• संयुज्यते: is united/connected
• संयुज्यते: क्रिया (Verb/आख्यात)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-√युज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense: 'is joined/connected')

• नरः: a man
• नरः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• तत्र: there; in that (state)
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Context)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/प्रसङ्ग-निर्देशक अव्यय (locative adverb)

• योगे: in yoga
• योगे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• तद्-अभ्यासः: practice of that
• तद्-अभ्यासः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम) + अभ्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तस्य अभ्यासः = practice of that)

• ततः: thereafter; from that
• ततः: अपादान (Apādāna/Source)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादानार्थक/क्रमसूचक (ablative adverb: 'from that/thereafter')

• भक्तिः: devotion
• भक्तिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine)

• परा: supreme
• परा: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine); विशेषणम् (qualifying 'भक्तिः')

• भवेत्: may become
• भवेत्: क्रिया (Verb/आख्यात)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Maps a soteriological ladder: tapas → śaiva-dharma → yoga-abhyāsa → parā-bhakti. Pilgrimage and temple discipline are validated as preparatory (caryā/kriyā) that mature into inner yoga and devotion.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents a Shaiva progression: tapas strengthens Shaiva dharma (disciplined living), which matures into yogic steadiness (abhyāsa), and finally ripens into parā-bhakti—devotion that naturally draws the soul toward Śiva (Pati) and liberation.

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

Shaiva dharma and tapas are typically expressed through disciplined Saguna worship—such as reverence to the Śiva-liṅga, pūjā, and vows—which purify the mind; that purity supports yoga, and yoga deepens loving fixation on Śiva, culminating in supreme devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse emphasizes tapas and abhyāsa (regular practice). In Shaiva practice this can be taken as daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steady meditation, supported by Shaiva observances such as vrata and purity disciplines.