Shloka 18

तपसो महिमा

The Greatness and Typology of Tapas

Devanagari script

धर्मस्थानानि चैतानि सुखदानि मनीषिणाम् । सुधर्मः परमो व्यासः शिवभक्तेश्च कारणम्

Transliteration

dharmasthānāni caitāni sukhadāni manīṣiṇām | sudharmaḥ paramo vyāsaḥ śivabhakteśca kāraṇam

Translation

Tunay na ito ang mga tahanan ng dharma na nagbibigay-ligaya sa marurunong. Ang su-dharma—tuwid na asal—ang pinakamataas, O Vyāsa, at nagiging tuwirang sanhi ng debosyon kay Panginoong Śiva.

Word by Word

• धर्मस्थानानि: places/abodes of dharma
• धर्मस्थानानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मस्थान = धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (धर्मस्य स्थानानि)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• एतानि: these
• एतानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (demonstrative pronoun)

• सुखदानि: giving happiness
• सुखदानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुखद = सुख (प्रातिपदिक) + द (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक from √दा)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of एतानि/धर्मस्थानानि); समासः तत्पुरुषः (सुखं ददाति)

• मनीषिणाम्: of the wise
• मनीषिणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manīṣin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• सुधर्मः: Sudharma (name/ideal dharma)
• सुधर्मः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sudharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• परमः: supreme
• परमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of सुधर्मः/व्यासः)

• व्यासः: Vyāsa
• व्यासः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• शिवभक्तेः: of devotion to Śiva
• शिवभक्तेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवभक्ति = शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शिवस्य भक्तिः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• कारणम्: cause, reason
• कारणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vyasa

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that dharmic living is not merely social virtue but a spiritual foundation that purifies the soul (paśu) and makes it fit for Śiva-bhakti, which ultimately loosens bondage (pāśa) and turns the seeker toward Pati (Śiva).

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

By emphasizing sudharma as the cause of devotion, the text implies that external worship—such as Linga-pūjā to Saguna Śiva—bears steady fruit when grounded in ethical discipline, purity, and right conduct, which stabilize faith and reverence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is to pair Shiva worship with sudharma: maintain purity and truthful conduct, then perform regular Linga-pūjā and japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”); such discipline supports devotion and inner steadiness.