Shloka 22

Anasūyā–Atri Tapas-Varṇana

Description of Anasūyā and Atri’s Austerities

Devanagari script

तथैनां च तदा दृष्ट्वा नायान्तीह समीपगाः । अत्रेश्च तपसश्चैवानसूया शिवसेवनम्

Transliteration

tathaināṃ ca tadā dṛṣṭvā nāyāntīha samīpagāḥ | atreśca tapasaścaivānasūyā śivasevanam

Translation

అప్పుడు ఆమెను చూచి వారు ఆమె సమీపానికి రాలేదు. ఎందుకంటే అత్రి మహర్షి తపస్సు మరియు అనసూయాదేవి శివసేవాభక్తి మహా ప్రభావశాలిగా, పవిత్రకరంగా ఉండెను.

Word by Word

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (thus)

• एनाम्: her/this (female)
• एनाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय

• आयान्ति: they come
• आयान्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग-आ (ā√yā)

• इह: here
• इह: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (here)

• समीपगाः: approaching/near-going
• समीपगाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समीप (प्रातिपदिक) + ग (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक, √गम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुष (sāmīpa-gāḥ = those who go/come near)

• अत्रेः: of Atri
• अत्रेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अत्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• तपसः: of austerity
• तपसः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय

• अनसूया: Anasūyā
• अनसूया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनसूया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृ/विषय (contextual)

• शिव-सेवनम्: service of Shiva
• शिव-सेवनम्: Vishaya/Karma (विषय/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + सेवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (Śiva-sevanam = service of Śiva); पद्ये विषय/कर्मरूपेण (elliptic)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse functions as a micro-sthala-purāṇa of sanctity: tapas (Atri) and śiva-sevā (Anasūyā) generate a protective, consecrated field that repels unfit approach—akin to a kṣetra’s ‘prabhāva’.

Significance: Highlights the Siddhānta principle that proximity to Śiva is mediated by adhikāra (fitness) gained through tapas and sevā; the holy person becomes a moving tīrtha.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Atri
• Anasuya

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the sanctifying power of tapas and Shiva-sevā: when devotion is mature, it naturally creates a protective spiritual radiance (śakti) that keeps harmful or impure influences at a distance.

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

“Śiva-sevanam” implies concrete, Saguna worship—service to Lord Shiva as the accessible Lord (often through Linga-pūjā). Such worship, supported by discipline and purity, is portrayed as spiritually protective and transformative.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is steady Shiva-sevā supported by tapas: daily japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), simple Linga worship, and a disciplined, pure lifestyle—especially emphasized for Mahāśivarātri observance.