Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 20

अलकापतेः तपः-लिङ्गप्रतिष्ठा च वरप्राप्तिः / The Lord of Alakā: Austerity, Liṅga-Establishment, and the Receiving of a Boon

Devanagari script

अथ देव्यब्रवीद्देव किमसौ दुष्टतापसः । असकृद्वीक्ष्य मां वक्ति कुरु त्वं मे तपःप्रभाम्

Transliteration

atha devyabravīddeva kimasau duṣṭatāpasaḥ | asakṛdvīkṣya māṃ vakti kuru tvaṃ me tapaḥprabhām

Translation

そのとき女神は言った。「おお主よ、あの邪なる苦行者は誰ですか。幾度も私を見つめ、不相応な言葉を吐きます。ゆえに、あなたのタパスより生じた威力と光輝を、私に顕して彼を制してください。」

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रमार्थक (then)

• देवी: the Goddess
• देवी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (भूतकाल/Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• देव: O god
• देव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• असौ: that (man)
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; दूरवाचक-सर्वनाम

• दुष्टतापसः: the wicked ascetic
• दुष्टतापसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुष्ट + तापस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—दुष्टः तापसः (कर्मधारय)

• असकृत्: repeatedly
• असकृत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: असकृत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आवृत्त्यर्थक (repeatedly)

• वीक्ष्य: having looked at
• वीक्ष्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वीक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having looked (at)’

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वक्ति: speaks/says
• वक्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान/Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• कुरु: do/make
• कुरु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ/Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मे: for me / to me
• मे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अत्र चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान) अधिकयुक्ता

• तपःप्रभाम्: the radiance of austerity
• तपःप्रभाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् + प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तपसः प्रभा (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Devī (Pārvatī / the Goddess)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Domestic Kailāsa episode: Devī appeals to Śiva to reveal tapas-tejas to restrain an offending ascetic; functions as a household-līlā illustrating protection through divine power.

Significance: Models śaraṇāgati: the devotee seeks refuge in Śiva’s tapas-śakti for removal of harassment/adharma and restoration of maryādā.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Devī
• Deva (Lord Śiva)
• tāpasa (ascetic)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that true tapas is inseparable from purity and self-restraint; a “wicked ascetic” is one whose senses and speech are uncontrolled. Devī’s appeal implies that divine grace and the Lord’s spiritual potency protect dharma and the devotee from adharma.

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

Devī addresses the personal Lord (“Deva”), showing Saguna Śiva as the protector who manifests spiritual power to uphold righteousness. In Linga-worship, this same protective, purifying presence of Śiva is invoked to burn impurities and stabilize the mind.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is disciplined tapas joined with mantra-japa—especially the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—to generate inner purity and spiritual luminosity. Ethical restraint (yama) is implied as the foundation; without it, austerity becomes hollow.