Shloka 23

भोजन-आह्वान-प्रकरणम् — The Episode of Invitation and the Divine Feast

Devanagari script

कैलासं कुत्रचिद्रम्यं कुत्रचिच्छक्रमन्दिरम् । कुत्रचिच्छिवलोकं च सर्वोपरि विराजितम्

Transliteration

kailāsaṃ kutracidramyaṃ kutracicchakramandiram | kutracicchivalokaṃ ca sarvopari virājitam

Translation

Somewhere shines the delightful Kailāsa; elsewhere stands the palace of Śakra (Indra); and elsewhere is Śivaloka—resplendent above all, reigning supreme.

Word by Word

• कैलासम्: Kailāsa
• कैलासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैलास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• कुत्रचित्: somewhere
• कुत्रचित्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कुत्रचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक

• रम्यम्: delightful/beautiful
• रम्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Singular)

• कुत्रचित्: somewhere
• कुत्रचित्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कुत्रचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक

• शक्रमन्दिरम्: Indra’s palace/temple
• शक्रमन्दिरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र + मन्दिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: शक्रस्य मन्दिरम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Singular)

• कुत्रचित्: somewhere
• कुत्रचित्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कुत्रचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक

• शिवलोकम्: Śiva’s world
• शिवलोकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: शिवस्य लोकः), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

• सर्वोपरि: above all
• सर्वोपरि: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्व + उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास (सर्वस्य उपरि = above all), अव्यय (adverb)

• विराजितम्: shining/standing splendidly
• विराजितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-राज् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Kedāranātha

Sthala Purana: Kailāsa is invoked as Śiva’s seat; while this verse is not a Kedāra-māhātmya, the Kailāsa-to-Himālaya axis naturally resonates with Kedāranātha traditions where Śiva is worshipped in the Himalayan domain.

Significance: Remembrance of Kailāsa and Śivaloka intensifies aspiration for Śiva’s highest abode and grace; Himalayan tīrthas are approached as gateways to Śaiva anugraha.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Indra
• Kailasa
• Shivaloka

FAQs

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

The verse presents a hierarchy of divine realms, culminating in Śivaloka as supreme—teaching that union with Śiva (Pati) transcends even the highest enjoyments of other heavens and points toward liberation-oriented devotion.

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

By declaring Śivaloka as highest, the text reinforces that worship of Saguna Śiva—often centered on the Śiva-liṅga—leads the devotee beyond lesser celestial attainments toward Śiva’s own realm and grace, which ultimately removes pāśa (bondage).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady Śiva-bhakti through daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with reverence for the liṅga; this aligns the mind with Śiva rather than seeking merely Indra-like heavenly rewards.