Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 29

दक्षयज्ञोत्तरवृत्तान्तः

Post–Dakṣa-Yajña Developments and the Appeal to Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

एवंविधं गिरिं दृष्ट्वा कैलासाख्यं शिवप्रियम् । ययुस्ते विस्मयं देवा विष्ण्वाद्यास्समुनीश्वराः

Transliteration

evaṃvidhaṃ giriṃ dṛṣṭvā kailāsākhyaṃ śivapriyam | yayuste vismayaṃ devā viṣṇvādyāssamunīśvarāḥ

Translation

Seeing such a mountain—named Kailāsa, so dear to Lord Śiva—the gods, along with Viṣṇu and the foremost sages, were filled with wonder.

Word by Word

• एवंविधम्: such (of this kind)
• एवंविधम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: evaṃ (अव्यय) + vidha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; समासः—एवं विधः (of such a kind)

• गिरिम्: mountain
• गिरिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: giri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √dṛś (धातु) → dṛṣṭvā (कृदन्त/क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), ‘having seen’

• कैलासाख्यम्: named Kailāsa
• कैलासाख्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kailāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + ākhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; समासः—कैलास इति आख्यं (named ‘Kailāsa’)

• शिवप्रियम्: dear to Śiva
• शिवप्रियम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; समासः—शिवस्य प्रियं (dear to Śiva)

• ययुः: they went
• ययुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yā (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• विस्मयम्: to astonishment
• विस्मयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vismaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• विष्णु-आद्याः: beginning with Viṣṇu
• विष्णु-आद्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; समासः—विष्णुः आदिः येषाम् (beginning with Viṣṇu)

• स-मुनीश्वराः: along with the sage-lords
• स-मुनीश्वराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa- (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + munīśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; ‘with the lords of sages’/‘together with sage-lords’

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Kedāranātha

Sthala Purana: Kailāsa is portrayed as Śiva’s प्रिय-धाम; in later pan-Śaiva pilgrimage imagination, the Kailāsa-Himālaya complex sacralizes nearby Himalayan Śiva-kṣetras. Kedāranātha is revered as a Himalayan jyotirliṅga where Śiva is approached through austerity and mountain sanctity (conceptual linkage rather than a direct identification in this verse).

Significance: Darśana of the Himalayan Śiva-dhāma evokes vismaya (sacred awe) that turns the mind from worldly cognition toward īśvara-bhāva and devotion.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kailasa
• Vishnu
• Devas
• Munis

FAQs

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

Kailāsa is presented as Śiva’s प्रिय धाम (beloved abode); the “wonder” of devas and sages indicates that true spiritual progress begins with reverent awe and recognition of Śiva’s supreme sanctity (Pati) and His realm.

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

By glorifying Kailāsa—Śiva’s manifest, accessible abode—the verse supports Saguna devotion: the devotee approaches Śiva through tangible sacred symbols and places (dhāma, liṅga, tīrtha) that awaken bhakti and lead toward inner realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice Śiva-darśana-bhāvanā: meditate on Kailāsa as Śiva’s pure abode while japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), cultivating vismaya (sacred awe) and steadiness of mind.