Shloka 56

Devanagari script

क्वचित्कैलास कुधरसुस्थानेषु महेश्वरः । विजहार गणैः प्रीत्या विविधेषु विहारवित्

Transliteration

kvacitkailāsa kudharasusthāneṣu maheśvaraḥ | vijahāra gaṇaiḥ prītyā vividheṣu vihāravit

Translation

At times, Maheśvara—well-versed in many forms of divine sport—would joyfully play with His gaṇas in the lofty, auspicious regions of Mount Kailāsa and in other mountain-abodes.

Word by Word

• क्वचित्: sometimes
• क्वचित्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb)

• कैलास: (at) Kailāsa
• कैलास: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location, implied)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैलास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; स्थाननाम (as a locative sense implied with ‘क्वचित्’)

• कुधर-सुस्थानेषु: in good mountain-places
• कुधर-सुस्थानेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुधर (प्रातिपदिक) + सुस्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय—कुधराणि एव सुस्थानानि (good places on mountains)

• महेश्वरः: Maheśvara (Great Lord)
• महेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—महान् ईश्वरः (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्राय)

• विजहार: sportively wandered/enjoyed
• विजहार: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + हृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• गणैः: with (his) attendants
• गणैः: Sahakari (सहकारी/Association; सह-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• प्रीत्या: with joy
• प्रीत्या: Hetu/Instrument (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• विविधेषु: in various (places/activities)
• विविधेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (of विहारेषु implied)

• विहारवित्: knower of (divine) sports
• विहारवित्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विहार (प्रातिपदिक) + विद् (धातु; ‘वित्’ as agent-noun)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष/कृदन्त—विहारं वेत्ति इति (knower of sports/pleasures)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Kedāranātha

Sthala Purana: Kailāsa as Śiva’s nitya-vihāra; Himalayan abodes are portrayed as his natural seat, echoing later tīrtha-traditions where Śiva is approached in mountain sanctuaries.

Significance: Mountain-darśana symbolizes approaching the transcendent Lord in purity and austerity; pilgrimage is linked with pāpa-kṣaya and steadiness in bhakti-yoga.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganas
• Kailasa

FAQs

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

It presents Shiva as Saguna Maheśvara who lovingly engages with His gaṇas, teaching that the Supreme Lord is not distant—He is accessible through devotion, remembrance, and participation in dharmic joy centered on Him.

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

By highlighting Shiva’s personal presence at Kailāsa and His divine pastimes, the verse supports Saguna worship: the devotee approaches the same Lord through the Śiva-liṅga as a consecrated, tangible focus for reverence and relationship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is smaraṇa (remembrance) of Kailāsa and Maheśvara while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” optionally with vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa to steady devotion.