Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 51

दक्षस्य रुद्रनिन्दा-निमित्तकथनम् / The Cause of Dakṣa’s Censure of Rudra

Devanagari script

स पर्वतपरः श्रीमांल्लब्धपुण्यफलोदयः । तदर्थमेव कृतवान् सुचिरं दुश्चरं तपः

Transliteration

sa parvataparaḥ śrīmāṃllabdhapuṇyaphalodayaḥ | tadarthameva kṛtavān suciraṃ duścaraṃ tapaḥ

Translation

Él, con la mente fija en la montaña como su asiento sagrado, resplandeciente de buen sino y del fruto del mérito recién despertado por antiguas virtudes, emprendió por ese mismo fin austeridades severas, difíciles de realizar, y las sostuvo por largo tiempo.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• parvata-paraḥ: dwelling on the mountain
• parvata-paraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parvata (पर्वत) + para (पर)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (सप्तमी/अधिकरण-आश्रयार्थे: पर्वते परः); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• śrīmān: splendid/illustrious
• śrīmān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śrīmat (श्रीमन्त् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; गुणवाचक

• labdha-puṇya-phala-udayaḥ: one whose rise of merit’s fruit had been obtained
• labdha-puṇya-phala-udayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: labdha (लभ् धातु, क्त) + puṇya (पुण्य) + phala (फल) + udaya (उदय)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (बहुपद); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘लभ्दः पुण्यफलोदयः यस्य सः’ (अर्थतः बहुव्रीहिवत् विशेषण-प्रयोग)

• tad-artham: for that purpose
• tad-artham: Karma (कर्म/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद्) + artha (अर्थ)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रयोजनवाचक

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis)

• kṛtavān: did/performed
• kṛtavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: क्तवतु-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past active participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोग

• suciram: for a long time
• suciram: Kāla (काल/temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sucira (सुचिर प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव/क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-द्वितीया एकवचन-आकारः; कालपरिमाणवाचक (adverbial accusative)

• duścaram: difficult
• duścaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duścara (दुष्चर प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; तपः-विशेषण

• tapaḥ: austerity/penance
• tapaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (तपस् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The mountain-lord (Himavān/Bhūdhareśvara in the surrounding narrative) performs long, difficult tapas to become worthy of Devī’s descent and to serve as her father in her next manifestation.

Significance: Models tapas as purification of the paśu (bound soul/finite being) to become a fit vessel for divine purpose; Himalaya as paradigmatic tapas-kṣetra.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights that sustained tapas, supported by prior merit, becomes a focused spiritual means to approach Pati (Lord Shiva), showing discipline, perseverance, and single-pointed intent as essential for grace and liberation.

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

By choosing a sacred place (the mountain) and performing prolonged austerity, the devotee turns inward while remaining oriented to Saguna Shiva as the accessible Lord who responds to devotion and tapas—often culminating in Shiva’s darśana or establishment/worship of the Linga in the narrative flow.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse primarily points to long-term tapas and yogic restraint; in Shaiva practice this is commonly paired with japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), steady dhyāna on Shiva, and disciplined observances such as purity, fasting, and worship at a consecrated holy spot.