Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 51

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

Devanagari script

ततश्चांतर्दधे रुद्रो महालीलाकरः प्रभुः । गुरुशक्रौ भयान्मुक्तौ जग्मतुः सुखमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

tataścāṃtardadhe rudro mahālīlākaraḥ prabhuḥ | guruśakrau bhayānmuktau jagmatuḥ sukhamuttamam

Translation

Daraufhin entschwand Herr Rudra—der Souverän, der die große göttliche Līlā vollzieht—dem Blick. Von Furcht befreit zogen sowohl Guru (Bṛhaspati) als auch Śakra (Indra) davon und erlangten höchsten Frieden und Wohlergehen.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तद्-प्रत्ययान्त-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: ‘then/from there’)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

• अन्तर्दधे: disappeared/withdrew
• अन्तर्दधे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अन्तर् + धा (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• रुद्रः: Rudra
• रुद्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• महालीलाकरः: performer of great play (divine sport)
• महालीलाकरः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + लीला + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (महती लीला यस्य/येन क्रियते सः)

• प्रभुः: the Lord
• प्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• गुरुशक्रौ: Guru (Bṛhaspati) and Śakra (Indra)
• गुरुशक्रौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु + शक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (गुरुः च शक्रः च)

• भयात्: from fear
• भयात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• मुक्तौ: freed/released
• मुक्तौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; मुच् धातोः क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतभावे (past passive participle)

• जग्मतुः: went
• जग्मतुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), द्विवचन; परस्मैपद

• सुखम्: happiness/comfort
• सुखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• उत्तमम्: supreme/excellent
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (superlative sense)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Rudra (Shiva)
• Śakra (Indra)
• Guru (Bṛhaspati)

FAQs

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

It highlights Rudra as the supreme Lord whose līlā governs fear and safety: when He withdraws, the purpose is fulfilled—fear is removed and the devotees (or gods) return to supreme tranquility through His grace.

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

Rudra ‘disappearing’ underscores that Saguna Shiva appears for protection and restoration, yet remains transcendent; Linga-worship trains the mind to hold His presence beyond form, so fear dissolves through steadfast devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate fearlessness through japa of the Pañcākṣarī—"Om Namaḥ Śivāya"—and steady dhyāna on Rudra as the protector; offering bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa-dhāraṇa may be adopted as supportive Shaiva disciplines.