Shloka 42

तपसो महिमा

The Greatness and Typology of Tapas

Devanagari script

यदा न ज्ञायते मृत्युः कदा कस्य भविष्यति । आकस्मिके हि मरणे धृतिं विंदति कस्तथा

Transliteration

yadā na jñāyate mṛtyuḥ kadā kasya bhaviṣyati | ākasmike hi maraṇe dhṛtiṃ viṃdati kastathā

Translation

既不知死亡何时到来，也不知将临于何人；当猝然之死骤至之时，又有谁能真正守住心之安定？

Word by Word

• यदा: when
• यदा: Kāla-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb: “when”)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• ज्ञायते: is known
• ज्ञायते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada); कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive: “is known”)

• मृत्युः: death
• मृत्युः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• कदा: when?
• कदा: Kāla-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-कालवाचक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb: “when?”)

• कस्य: of whom
• कस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक (Masc/Neut), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• भविष्यति: will happen
• भविष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

• आकस्मिके: in sudden (unexpected)
• आकस्मिके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आकस्मिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण of मरणे

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (indeed/for)

• मरणे: in death, at dying
• मरणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• धृतिम्: steadfastness, composure
• धृतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• विन्दति: finds, attains
• विन्दति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

• कः: who
• कः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• तथा: thus, in that way
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (manner adverb: “thus/so”)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

FAQs

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

It emphasizes the uncertainty of death to awaken vairagya (detachment) and urgency for sadhana, directing the mind toward Pati (Shiva) as the stable refuge beyond worldly unpredictability.

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

Because life’s end is uncertain, the Purana urges steady remembrance and worship of Saguna Shiva through Linga-upasana, so devotion and surrender become constant rather than delayed for a “later time.”

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Daily japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with inward recollection of Shiva, supported by simple Shaiva observances like Tripundra (bhasma) and Rudraksha, to cultivate dhṛti (steadiness) amid uncertainty.