Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 39

त्रिपुरवर्णनम् (Tripura-varṇanam) — “Description of Tripura”

Devanagari script

संपीडनाय जगतो यदि स क्रियते तपः । सफलं तद्गतं वेद्यं तस्मात्सुविहितं तपः

Transliteration

saṃpīḍanāya jagato yadi sa kriyate tapaḥ | saphalaṃ tadgataṃ vedyaṃ tasmātsuvihitaṃ tapaḥ

Translation

若苦行（tapas）是为压迫世间而行，当知其所谓“有果”，不过是成就了那毁灭之意；因此，真正的苦行必须导向正道——依正法而行，合乎湿婆的法度与秩序，而非出于残酷。

Word by Word

• saṃpīḍanāya: for the oppression/affliction
• saṃpīḍanāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃpīḍana (प्रातिपदिक; √pīḍ/पीड् धातु + lyuṭ)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• jagataḥ: of the world
• jagataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/condition marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: Conditional particle (शर्तसूचक अव्यय)

• saḥ: he/that (austerity)
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• kriyate: is done/performed
• kriyate: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Ātmanepada passive (कर्मणि प्रयोग), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• tapaḥ: austerity, penance
• tapaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• saphalam: fruitful
• saphalam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with tapaḥ

• tadgatam: directed to that / resting on that
• tadgatam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad-gata (प्रातिपदिक: tad + gata)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with tapaḥ

• vedyam: to be known/understood
• vedyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √vid (विद् धातु) + ya (यत्) → vedya (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Gerundive/obligatory participle (भाव्य/कर्तव्य), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicate with implied 'is'

• tasmāt: therefore, from that
• tasmāt: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablatival adverb (तस्मात्-प्रयोग; हेत्वर्थे)

• su-vihitam: well-ordained, properly performed
• su-vihitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su-vihita (प्रातिपदिक; su + vihita from √dhā/धा with vi + kta)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); past passive participle (क्त) used adjectivally; agrees with tapaḥ

• tapaḥ: austerity
• tapaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that tapas is not automatically sacred; its spiritual value depends on intention and alignment with dharma. Austerity aimed at harming beings binds one deeper, while well-directed tapas—offered to Śiva and guided by righteousness—supports purification and liberation.

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

Linga-worship and Saguna Śiva devotion emphasize inner purity and non-harming. This verse reinforces that external power gained through penance is secondary; what matters is directing practice toward Śiva with dharmic intent, not toward domination or cruelty.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Undertake ‘su-vihita’ tapas: daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), worship of the Śiva-liṅga with humility, and disciplined vows (vrata) like Mahāśivarātri observance—keeping the mind free from malice and harm.