Shloka 15

Devīkṛta-praśna-varṇana (Description of the Goddess’s Questions) / देवीकृतप्रश्नवर्णनम्

Devanagari script

ततो हिमवतो गत्वा कैलासम्भूधरेश्वरम् । जगौ दीक्षाविधानेन प्रणवादीन्मनून् क्रमात्

Transliteration

tato himavato gatvā kailāsambhūdhareśvaram | jagau dīkṣāvidhānena praṇavādīnmanūn kramāt

Translation

Then, going from Himavat to the Lord of the Kailāsa mountain, he recited—according to the rite of initiation—the sacred mantras beginning with the Praṇava (Oṁ), in due order.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (adverb)

• himavataḥ: of Himavat
• himavataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: himavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (Gen. 6), Ekavacana (elliptic: ‘of Himavat’ i.e., from Himavat’s place)

• gatvā: having gone
• gatvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: Ktvā (absolutive/gerund)

• kailāsa: Kailāsa
• kailāsa: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kailāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (compound member)

• bhūdhara: mountain
• bhūdhara: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūdhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (compound member)

• īśvaram: the Lord of Kailāsa mountain
• īśvaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana; kailāsa-bhūdhara-īśvara = ‘lord of the Kailāsa mountain’ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष chain)

• jagau: sang/recited
• jagau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gai (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (perfect), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• dīkṣā: initiation
• dīkṣā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dīkṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (compound member)

• vidhānena: by the initiation procedure
• vidhānena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Tṛtīyā (Instr. 3), Ekavacana; dīkṣā-vidhāna = ‘initiation procedure’ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• praṇava: praṇava (Oṃ)
• praṇava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: praṇava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (compound member)

• ādīn: beginning with
• ādīn: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Bahuvacana; ‘beginning with’ (used in compound)

• manūn: mantras
• manūn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Bahuvacana; praṇava-ādi-manūn = ‘mantras beginning with Oṃ’ (तत्पुरुष)

• kramāt: in sequence
• kramāt: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Pañcamī (Abl. 5) used adverbially (‘in order/stepwise’), Ekavacana

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kailasa
• Himavat
• Pranava (Om)

FAQs

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

It highlights that approaching Śiva (the Lord of Kailāsa) is traditionally joined with dīkṣā—formal initiation—where mantra is received and recited in an ordered, disciplined way, aligning the seeker (paśu) toward Pati through Śiva’s grace.

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

Kailāsa here points to Saguna Śiva as the accessible Lord who bestows initiation; mantra beginning with Oṁ is used to worship and realize Śiva through form-supported practice (including liṅga-upāsanā), which can mature into inner realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Receiving mantra through dīkṣā and chanting in proper sequence—beginning with Praṇava (Oṁ)—as japa; this is commonly paired in Śaiva practice with purity disciplines such as bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa, as applicable to one’s vow and lineage.