Mahabharata · 7.57.33–34
॥
Devanāgarī
ग्रहनक्षत्रसोमानां सूर्याग्न्योश् च समत्विषम् ॥
अपश्यत तदा पार्थो ज्वलन्तम् इव पर्वतम् ॥
समासाद्य तु तं शैलं शैलाग्रे समवस्थितम् ॥
तपोनित्यं महात्मानम् अपश्यद् वृषभध्वजम् ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
grahanakṣatrasomānāṃ sūryāgnyoś ca samatviṣam ||
apaśyata tadā pārtho jvalantam iva parvatam ||
samāsādya tu taṃ śailaṃ śailāgre samavasthitam ||
taponityaṃ mahātmānam apaśyad vṛṣabhadhvajam ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
ग्रहनक्षत्रसोमानाम्grahanakṣatrasomānāmof planets, constellations, and the moon; of planets, constellations, the moon
सूर्याग्न्योः च समत्विषम्sūryāgnyoḥ ca samatviṣamand of sun and fire -- equally radiant [mountain]; and of sun and fire -- equally shining
अपश्यत तदा पार्थःapaśyata tadā pārthaḥsaw then Partha; beheld then Partha
ज्वलन्तम् इव पर्वतम्jvalantam iva parvatamlike a blazing mountain; like a blazing mountain
समासाद्य तु तम् शैलम्samāsādya tu tam śailamhaving reached that mountain; having reached that mountain
शैलाग्रे समवस्थितम्śailāgre samavasthitamabiding on the mountain's peak; abiding on the peak
तपोनित्यम् महात्मानम्taponityam mahātmānamever engaged in austerity, great of soul; eternal in austerity, mighty
अपश्यत् वृषभध्वजम्apaśyat vṛṣabhadhvajamhe saw the Bull-bannered one [Shiva]; he beheld the Bull-bannered one
Translation
Then Partha saw a mountain equally radiant with the planets, the constellations, the moon, the sun, and fire -- as though ablaze. And, having reached that mountain, abiding on its peak, ever engaged in austerity, great of soul, he beheld the Bull-bannered one [Shiva].
Version
c7fa57ed5dc3 · published Jul 19, 2026, 3:36:52 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The goal of the ascent shines with the light of all the luminaries at once: Shiva's mountain, 'grahanakshatrasoma... suryagni... samatvisham,' equally radiant with the planets, the moon, the sun, and fire. And on its peak stands 'taponityam,' the god ever engaged in austerity. It is telling that the greatest of the worshippers of God manifests himself in unceasing austerity: even Shiva himself abides in asceticism. The verse teaches that the summit of spiritual ascent is lit by uncreated light, and that the model for every seeker lies in Shiva's unwearied austerity: even at the height of divinity he does not abandon tapas, showing constancy of striving toward the highest.