Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 6

गजासुरतपः–देवलोकक्षोभः

Gajāsura’s Austerities and the Disturbance of the Worlds

Devanagari script

स तेपे हिमवद्द्रोण्यां तपः परमदारु णम् । ऊर्द्ध्वबाहुर्नभोदृष्टिः पादांगुष्ठाश्रितावनिः

Transliteration

sa tepe himavaddroṇyāṃ tapaḥ paramadāru ṇam | ūrddhvabāhurnabhodṛṣṭiḥ pādāṃguṣṭhāśritāvaniḥ

Translation

ସେ ହିମାଳୟର ଦ୍ରୋଣୀରେ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଦାରୁଣ ତପ କଲା—ବାହୁ ଉର୍ଦ୍ଧ୍ୱକୁ ଉଠାଇ, ଦୃଷ୍ଟି ଆକାଶରେ ନିଶ୍ଚଳ କରି, ଏବଂ କେବଳ ପାଦାଙ୍ଗୁଷ୍ଠର ଅଗ୍ରଭାଗରେ ଭୂମିକୁ ଆଶ୍ରୟ କରି ଦଣ୍ଡାୟମାନ ହୋଇ।

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तेपे: performed austerity / did penance
• तेपे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• हिमवत्-द्रोण्याम्: in the valley/basin of Himavat
• हिमवत्-द्रोण्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिमवत् + द्रोणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (हिमवतः द्रोणी); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• तपः: austerity, penance
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• परमदारुणम्: extremely severe
• परमदारुणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम + दारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तपः-विशेषण

• ऊर्ध्वबाहुः: with arms raised upward
• ऊर्ध्वबाहुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऊर्ध्व + बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (ऊर्ध्वौ बाहू यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• नभोदृष्टिः: gazing at the sky
• नभोदृष्टिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नभस् + दृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (नभसि दृष्टिः यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पादाङ्गुष्ठ-आश्रित-अवनिः: standing with the earth supported only by the big toes
• पादाङ्गुष्ठ-आश्रित-अवनिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाद + अङ्गुष्ठ + आश्रित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √श्रि धातु) + अवनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (पादाङ्गुष्ठेन आश्रिता अवनिः यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; आश्रित = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Āghoramūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Kedāranātha

Sthala Purana: Himavat setting evokes Kedāra’s Himalayan sanctity: Śiva as Kedāreśvara is approached through hardship, solitude, and tapas; though this verse is not the Kedāra origin story, it resonates with the Kedāra archetype of severe sādhana in the mountains.

Significance: Mountain austerity symbolizes inner ascent: endurance, restraint, and one-pointedness; in Siddhānta terms, tapas without surrender still remains within pāśa, but it can become a preparatory discipline when turned toward Pati.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Himalaya

FAQs

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

The verse highlights unwavering tapas and one-pointed yogic resolve—disciplining body and senses so the seeker becomes fit for Shiva’s grace (anugraha), the decisive cause for liberation in Shaiva Siddhanta.

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

Such austerity is the inner counterpart of outer worship: while Linga-puja honors Saguna Shiva through form, tapas and steady contemplation purify the devotee so devotion matures into direct experience of Shiva’s presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests disciplined meditation with bodily steadiness and sense-restraint; as a Shaiva practice one may pair this with Panchakshara japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and a vrata such as Mahashivratri observance, emphasizing purity and focused remembrance.