Shloka 20

Devanagari script

परीक्षार्थं विष्णुभक्तेस्तदा वै शंकरेण ह । कमलानां सहस्रात्तु हृतमेकं च नीरजम्

Transliteration

parīkṣārthaṃ viṣṇubhaktestadā vai śaṃkareṇa ha | kamalānāṃ sahasrāttu hṛtamekaṃ ca nīrajam

Translation

To test Viṣṇu’s devotion, Śaṅkara at that time removed one lotus from the thousand lotuses prepared for worship.

Word by Word

• परीक्षा-अर्थम्: for testing
• परीक्षा-अर्थम्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परीक्षा (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; द्वितीया-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययवत्; अर्थः ‘परीक्षायै/परीक्षणार्थम्’ (for the sake of testing)

• विष्णु-भक्तेः: of Viṣṇu-devotion
• विष्णु-भक्तेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (devotion to Viṣṇu)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• शङ्करेण: by Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• शङ्करेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• ह: indeed/for emphasis
• ह: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), स्मरण/वृत्तान्तसूचक

• कमलानाम्: of the lotuses
• कमलानाम्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन

• सहस्रात्: from (a) thousand
• सहस्रात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक

• हृतम्: was removed
• हृतम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ (धातु)
• Form: कर्मणि-भूतकृदन्त, क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अर्थः ‘taken away/removed’

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; संख्यावाचक-विशेषण

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

• नीरजम्: a lotus
• नीरजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीरज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; ‘नीरात् जायते’ इति (lotus)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Śiva’s ‘removal of one lotus’ is a narrative emblem of tirodhāna (veiling/withholding) used compassionately as parīkṣā to mature the devotee; it is not tied to a specific Jyotirliṅga locale in the quoted passage.

Significance: Teaches pilgrims that apparent obstacles in worship can be Śiva’s pedagogical concealment, intended to intensify surrender and single-pointed devotion.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Shankara

FAQs

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

It shows that true bhakti is proved when devotion remains steady even if the external means of worship are reduced; Shiva’s “testing” reveals the devotee’s inner surrender and single-pointed intent.

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

The episode emphasizes Saguna worship—offering flowers and completing a vowed count—yet teaches that the Linga is pleased primarily by unwavering devotion; Shiva may alter circumstances to reveal the worshipper’s authenticity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain a fixed vrata or japa count with sincerity; if an offering becomes unavailable, substitute with heartfelt devotion and mantra (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) rather than abandoning worship.