Shloka 15

तपसो महिमा

The Greatness and Typology of Tapas

Devanagari script

उत्तमं सात्त्विकं विद्याद्धर्मबुद्धिश्च निश्चला । स्नानं पूजा जपो होमः शुद्धशौचमहिंसनम्

Transliteration

uttamaṃ sāttvikaṃ vidyāddharmabuddhiśca niścalā | snānaṃ pūjā japo homaḥ śuddhaśaucamahiṃsanam

Translation

Alamin na ang pinakamataas na pamumuhay ay sāttvika: matatag na pag-unawa na nakaugat sa dharma—kasama ang banal na pagligo, pagsamba, pagbigkas ng mantra, handog na apoy (homa), kalinisan at kadalisayan ng asal, at ahiṃsā (di-karahasan).

Word by Word

उत्तमम्the best (type)

सात्त्विकम्sattvic

विद्यात्should know/recognize

धर्मबुद्धिःrighteous understanding

चand

निश्चलाsteadfast

स्नानम्bathing

पूजाworship

जपःmantra repetition

होमःfire offering

शुद्धशौचम्pure cleanliness

अहिंसनम्non-violence

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

Shiva

FAQs

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

It defines the “highest sāttvika” way of living as a disciplined, dharma-centered mind expressed through purity, non-violence, and regular Shaiva worship—qualities that refine the pashu (bound soul) toward the grace of Pati (Shiva).

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

Practices like snāna, pūjā, japa, and homa are core limbs of Saguna Shiva devotion (including Linga worship), emphasizing inner steadiness (niścalā dharmabuddhi) alongside outer ritual purity (śauca).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain śauca and ahiṁsā, perform purificatory bathing, and adopt daily pūjā with japa (e.g., the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”); homa may be added as a supportive Vedic-Shaiva rite where appropriate.