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

तप तीन प्रकार का स्मृत है—सात्त्विक, राजस और तामस। अतः हे व्यास, तप को यथार्थ जानना चाहिए, क्योंकि वही समस्त साधनों का साधन है।

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.