Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

ततो रुद्रः क्रुधाविष्टः करालाक्षो भयंकरः । द्रुतमेव प्रजज्वाल तेजसा प्रदहन्निव

Transliteration

tato rudraḥ krudhāviṣṭaḥ karālākṣo bhayaṃkaraḥ | drutameva prajajvāla tejasā pradahanniva

Translation

Then Rudra, seized by wrath—terrible-eyed and awe-inspiring—blazed forth at once, as though scorching all things with His fiery splendour.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/काल-देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय/तद्-तसिल्)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb)

• रुद्रः: Rudra
• रुद्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• क्रुधा-आविष्टः: possessed by anger
• क्रुधा-आविष्टः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रुधा (प्रातिपदिक) + आविष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (क्रुधया आविष्टः = anger-possessed)

• कराल-अक्षः: fierce-eyed
• कराल-अक्षः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कराल (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (करालानि अक्षीणि यस्य/करालाक्षः)

• भयङ्करः: terrifying
• भयङ्करः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (भयं करोति)

• द्रुतम्: quickly
• द्रुतम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/रीति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्रुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण; अव्ययप्रयोग (adverb: quickly)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle: indeed/just)

• प्रजज्वाल: blazed forth
• प्रजज्वाल: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-ज्वल् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• तेजसा: with splendor/energy
• तेजसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• प्रदहन्: burning
• प्रदहन्: Kriya (क्रिया/सहायक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र- दह् (धातु) → दहन् (शतृ-कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणभावे (as if burning)

• इव: as if
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमा-वाचक (particle of comparison: like/as if)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the events to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra

FAQs

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

Rudra’s sudden blazing tejas symbolizes the Lord’s sovereign power (Pati) that burns impurity and adharmic forces; in Shaiva Siddhanta, His grace can appear as fierce, removing bondage by destroying the causes of suffering.

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna Shiva—Rudra with form and attributes—whose tejas protects devotees and restores dharma; Linga worship trains the mind to revere that same supreme reality, both immanent (Saguna) and ultimately transcendent.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Rudra’s tejas while repeating the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and perform Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) application as a reminder that Shiva’s fire burns ego and fear into steadiness.