Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 52
मन्दरगिरिवर्णनम् — Description of Mount Mandara as Śiva’s Residence
Tapas-abode
शिव उवाच । स यद्येवंविधतापस्ते तपसा किं प्रयोजनम् । ममेच्छया स्वेच्छया वा वर्णान्तरवती भव
śiva uvāca | sa yadyevaṃvidhatāpaste tapasā kiṃ prayojanam | mamecchayā svecchayā vā varṇāntaravatī bhava
Śiva bersabda: “Jika tapamu seperti ini, apa guna tapa itu? Entah oleh kehendak-Ku atau oleh pilihanmu sendiri, jadilah engkau yang memikul varṇa lain (jati diri yang berubah).”
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse stresses that tapas is not valuable merely as hardship; its spiritual worth depends on right intention and alignment with Shiva (Pati). When austerity is misdirected, Shiva redirects the seeker toward a transformative outcome rather than empty penance.
As Saguna Shiva, the compassionate Lord personally guides devotees and corrects their approach. The verse reflects Shiva’s role as the living Guru of devotees—granting results by His icchā (will) and shaping the devotee’s path, which is central to devotional Linga-worship where grace (anugraha) perfects effort.
The implied takeaway is to purify the motive behind tapas through Shiva-centered sādhanā—steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), worship of the Linga with devotion, and disciplined self-restraint—so austerity becomes inward transformation rather than mere external strain.