Shloka 54

पानीयदान-प्रपादान-वापीकूपतडाग-निर्माण-प्रशंसा

Praise of Water-Gift and the Construction of Wells and Tanks

Devanagari script

इत्युक्तं ते महाप्राज्ञ तपोमाहात्म्यमुत्तमम् । शृण्वध्ययनमाहात्म्यं तपसोऽधिकमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

ityuktaṃ te mahāprājña tapomāhātmyamuttamam | śṛṇvadhyayanamāhātmyaṃ tapaso'dhikamuttamam

Translation

ഹേ മഹാപ്രാജ്ഞാ, ഇങ്ങനെ ഞാൻ നിനക്കു തപസ്സിന്റെ പരമ മഹാത്മ്യം പ്രസ്താവിച്ചു. ഇനി ശ്രവിക്കൂ—അധ്യയനത്തിന്റെ മഹാത്മ്യം; അത് തപസ്സിനേക്കാൾ പോലും അധികം ഉത്തമം.

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), quotative particle (इति-प्रयोग)

• uktam: said
• uktam: Kriya (क्रिया/predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु) → ukta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Kridanta: past passive participle (क्त/PPP), Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; used impersonally ‘it has been said’

• te: to you
• te: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/to recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (युष्मद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; ‘to you’

• mahāprājña: O great wise one
• mahāprājña: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + prājña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; संबोधन

• tapaḥ: of austerity
• tapaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitival)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (तपस् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; in compound relation with māhātmya

• māhātmyam: the greatness
• māhātmyam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māhātmya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• uttamam: supreme
• uttamam: Visheshana (विशेषण/modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; agrees with māhātmyam

• śṛṇu: hear
• śṛṇu: Kriya (क्रिया/imperative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (लोट्/imperative), Parasmaipada, 2nd person (मध्यम), Singular

• adhyayana: of study (recitation)
• adhyayana: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitival)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhyayana (अध्ययन प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; in compound relation with māhātmya

• māhātmyam: the greatness
• māhātmyam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māhātmya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• tapasaḥ: than austerity
• tapasaḥ: Apadana (अपादान/standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (तपस् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; ‘than austerity’ (comparative standard)

• adhikam: greater
• adhikam: Visheshana (विशेषण/modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adhika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; comparative sense ‘greater’ qualifying māhātmyam

• uttamam: excellent
• uttamam: Visheshana (विशेषण/modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; further qualifier

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that while tapas purifies and strengthens discipline, scriptural study (adhyayana) gives clearer right-knowledge that guides the soul (paśu) toward Shiva (Pati), making the path to liberation more direct.

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

It implies that Linga-worship becomes mature and effective when grounded in understanding—study clarifies the meaning of Shiva-tattva and the purpose of puja, transforming ritual from mere action into conscious devotion and insight.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular adhyayana—daily recitation/study of Shaiva scriptures—alongside mantra-japa (especially the Panchakshara, ‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya’) is indicated as a superior discipline that can accompany or refine tapas.