Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 5
हिरण्यनेत्रस्य तपः — Hiraṇyanetra’s Austerity and the Boon
वर्षायुतं तत्र तपश्चचार जजाप जाप्यं विधृतैकपादः । आहारहीनो नियमोर्द्ध्वबाहुः कर्त्तुं न शक्यं हि सुरा सुरैर्यत्
varṣāyutaṃ tatra tapaścacāra jajāpa jāpyaṃ vidhṛtaikapādaḥ | āhārahīno niyamorddhvabāhuḥ karttuṃ na śakyaṃ hi surā surairyat
そこで彼は一万年にわたり苦行を修し、唱えるべき真言を繰り返しジャパした。片足で立ち、食を断ち、厳しい誓戒を守って両腕を高く掲げ—それはデーヴァにもアスラにも成し得ぬ、まことに不可能な行であった。
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Role: liberating
FAQs
It highlights tapas and mantra-japa as a fierce purification of the limited self (paśu), showing that unwavering discipline can surpass even divine and demonic capacities when directed toward Shiva as the supreme Pati.
The verse emphasizes embodied practice—vows, japa, and yogic restraint—which in Shiva Purana tradition commonly culminate in Saguna Shiva worship such as Linga-sevā, where disciplined devotion becomes fit to receive Shiva’s grace.
Sustained mantra-japa with niyama (vows), fasting or regulated diet, and steady yogic posture; for Shaiva practice this can be aligned with Panchākṣarī japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") along with vrata observances (especially on Mahāśivarātri).