Shloka 12

कैलासमार्गे शङ्करस्य परीक्षा — Śiva Tests the Approachers on the Kailāsa Path

Devanagari script

पुनः पुरंदरोऽपृच्छ्ल्लोकानामधिपेश्वरः । तूष्णीमास महायोगी लीलारूपधरः प्रभुः

Transliteration

punaḥ puraṃdaro'pṛcchllokānāmadhipeśvaraḥ | tūṣṇīmāsa mahāyogī līlārūpadharaḥ prabhuḥ

Translation

Again Indra, lord of the worlds, questioned him; but the Supreme Lord—the great Yogi who assumes forms in divine play—remained silent.

Word by Word

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति/कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• पुरंदरः: Purandara (Indra)
• पुरंदरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरंदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अपृच्छत्: asked
• अपृच्छत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• लोकानाम्: of the worlds
• लोकानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• अधिप-ईश्वरः: the lord and ruler
• अधिप-ईश्वरः: Apposition (समाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधिप + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (अधिपश्चासौ ईश्वरश्च)

• तूष्णीम्: silently
• तूष्णीम्: Prakara-adhikarana (प्रकार-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तूष्णीम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• आस: remained/was
• आस: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; अस्ति-अर्थे (was/remained)

• महायोगी: the great yogi
• महायोगी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महायोगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (महान् योगी)

• लीलारूपधरः: bearer of a playful form
• लीलारूपधरः: Apposition (समाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लीला + रूप + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (लीलायाः रूपं धरति)

• प्रभुः: the Lord
• प्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages, describing the scene)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Shiva

FAQs

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

Shiva’s silence signifies the transcendence of the Supreme (Pati) beyond conceptual speech; the Mahāyogī teaches that ultimate truth is realized through inner stillness and direct experience, not merely through questioning.

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

Though Shiva appears in a līlā-form (saguṇa for devotees), his silence points to the same formless depth indicated by the Liṅga—aniconic, beyond description—guiding worship from form to realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A key takeaway is dhyāna on inner silence: japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) followed by quiet absorption; this aligns devotion (bhakti) with yogic stillness.