Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

इन्द्र उवाच । रे मया पृच्छ्यमानोऽपि नोत्तरं दत्तवानसि । अतस्त्वां हन्मि वज्रेण कस्ते त्रातास्ति दुर्मते

Transliteration

indra uvāca | re mayā pṛcchyamāno'pi nottaraṃ dattavānasi | atastvāṃ hanmi vajreṇa kaste trātāsti durmate

Translation

Indra said: “Hey! Though questioned by me, you have given no reply. Therefore I will strike you with the thunderbolt—who is there to protect you, O evil-minded one?”

Word by Word

• इन्द्रः: Indra
• इन्द्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• रे: hey!
• रे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: रे (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सम्बोधन-निपात (vocative particle; O!/hey!)

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/स्त्री (common), तृतीया (3rd case/Instrumental), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पृच्छ्यमानः: being asked
• पृच्छ्यमानः: Karta-anvayi Viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण; addressed person)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि ‘being asked’

• अपि: even/although
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि-निपात (even/although)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation)

• उत्तरम्: an answer
• उत्तरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दत्तवान्: (you) have given
• दत्तवान्: Kriya (क्रिया; periphrastic perfect component)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्तवतुँ-प्रत्ययान्त (perfect participle active), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘having given’

• असि: are
• असि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/तस्मात् (therefore/from this)

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• हन्मि: I strike/kill
• हन्मि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• वज्रेण: with the thunderbolt
• वज्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (usage masc.), तृतीया, एकवचन

• कः: who
• कः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम

• ते: of you/for you
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th case/Genitive) एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• त्राता: protector
• त्राता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अस्ति: is
• अस्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• दुर्मते: O evil-minded one
• दुर्मते: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th case/Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Indra

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Vajra

FAQs

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

It highlights how authority and power, when driven by ego and anger, turn into threat; in Shaiva understanding, true refuge is not worldly power but surrender to Pati (Shiva), the ultimate protector beyond fear.

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

The verse contrasts reliance on external might (vajra) with the deeper Shaiva stance that protection ultimately rests in devotion to Saguna Shiva as the compassionate Lord who grants shelter; Linga-worship embodies seeking that highest refuge.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate fearlessness through japa of the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and inner restraint (śama); applying Tripuṇḍra and wearing Rudrāksha can be taken as reminders to abandon ego and seek Shiva as the true trātā (protector).