Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 39

कैलासमार्गे शङ्करस्य परीक्षा — Śiva Tests the Approachers on the Kailāsa Path

Devanagari script

पातयित्वा च देवेशमिंद्रं नत शिरोधरम् । बृहस्पतिरुवाचेदं प्रश्रयावनतश्शिवम्

Transliteration

pātayitvā ca deveśamiṃdraṃ nata śirodharam | bṛhaspatiruvācedaṃ praśrayāvanataśśivam

Translation

Nachdem er Indra, den Herrn der Götter, mit gebeugtem Haupt in Unterwerfung zu Boden fallen ließ, sprach Bṛhaspati diese Worte in Ehrfurcht und Demut zu Śiva.

Word by Word

• pātayitvā: having felled / having made fall
• pātayitvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pātaya (धातु-प्रेरण, √pat/पत्)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), from causative of √pat (पत्) ‘to fall’; ‘having caused to fall’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• deveśam: the Lord of gods
• deveśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deveśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; compound: deva + īśa ‘lord of gods’

• indram: Indra
• indram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• nata: bowed
• nata: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nam (धातु, √nam/नम्)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; agreeing with ‘indraṃ’; ‘bowed’

• śirodharam: head-bearing (having his head)
• śirodharam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śirodhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; compound: śiras + dhara ‘bearing the head’; used adjectivally for Indra

• bṛhaspatiḥ: Bṛhaspati
• bṛhaspatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bṛhaspati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु, वच्)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• praśraya-avanataḥ: humbly bowed
• praśraya-avanataḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: praśraya (प्रातिपदिक) + avanata (कृदन्त, √nam/नम्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; compound: ‘bowed down with humility’

• śivam: Śiva
• śivam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

Speaker

Brihaspati

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Shiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Highlights the pedagogic ‘lowering’ of ego (even of Indra) before approaching Śiva—an implicit prerequisite for grace; pilgrimage ethos: humility before darśana.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Indra
• Brihaspati

FAQs

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

It highlights that even Indra’s sovereignty is secondary to Śiva’s supreme lordship; true spiritual progress begins with humility (praśraya) and surrender before Pati, the liberating Lord.

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

Bṛhaspati’s reverent approach models Saguna-Śiva devotion—approaching the Lord with bowed head and disciplined speech—an inner attitude that also underlies Linga-worship (arcana) and prayer.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt the posture of humility—mentally bow and recite the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with reverence; let the ego ‘fall’ like Indra’s pride, and offer worship with respectful intention.