Shloka 11

Vāyu-jaya (Prāṇa-vijaya) and Yogic Mastery over Time — वायुजय (प्राणविजय) तथा कालजय

Devanagari script

शतमब्दं तपस्तप्त्वा कुशाग्रापः पिबेद्द्विजः । तदाप्नोति फलं देवि विप्राणां धारणैकया

Transliteration

śatamabdaṃ tapastaptvā kuśāgrāpaḥ pibeddvijaḥ | tadāpnoti phalaṃ devi viprāṇāṃ dhāraṇaikayā

Translation

اے دیوی! جو دْوِج سو برس تپسیا کرے اور کُش کے سِرے سے لیا ہوا پانی ہی پئے، وہی پھل پاتا ہے جو وِپر محض ایک ہی دھارَنا (باطنی استقامتِ توجہ) سے حاصل کر لیتے ہیں۔

Word by Word

• śatam: a hundred
• śatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; संख्याविशेषणम्

• abdam: years
• abdam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• tapaḥ: austerity
• tapaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘तप्त्वा’ इत्यस्य कर्म

• taptvā: having practiced (austerity)
• taptvā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tap (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया (having performed)

• kuśa-agra-āpaḥ: water (taken through/with the tip of kuśa grass)
• kuśa-agra-āpaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuśa (प्रातिपदिक) + agra (प्रातिपदिक) + āpas/āpaḥ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (आपाḥ), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (kuśāgrāpaḥ = water with kuśa-tip/filtered by kuśa)

• pibet: should drink
• pibet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pā (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• dvijaḥ: a twice-born (Brahmin)
• dvijaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (then)

• āpnoti: attains
• āpnoti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √āp (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• phalam: fruit/result
• phalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• devi: O Goddess
• devi: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• viprāṇām: of the Brahmins
• viprāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• dhāraṇa-ekayā: by single-pointed concentration
• dhāraṇa-ekayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhāraṇā (प्रातिपदिक) + eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (dhāraṇaikayā = by a single dhāraṇā/one-pointed concentration)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Establishes the Purāṇic valuation of inner dhāraṇā over extreme external tapas, encouraging pilgrims/householders toward Śiva-oriented meditation as a swift means to merit and purification.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It elevates inner yogic steadiness (dhāraṇā) over external hardship, teaching that concentrated awareness aligned to Shiva yields the fruit of long austerities, reflecting Shaiva emphasis on disciplined consciousness and grace.

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

Dhāraṇā can be directed to Saguna Shiva—such as the Linga as a support for concentration—showing that focused contemplation on Shiva’s form and presence can grant results equal to prolonged ascetic practice.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to dhāraṇā: one-pointed concentration/inner retention (often practiced with breath and mantra), which may be supported by Shiva-upāsanā such as japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady contemplation on the Linga.