Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

दीननाथाय विभवे नमोंऽधकनिषूदिने । त्रिपुरघ्नाय शर्वाय ब्रह्मणे परमेष्ठिने

Transliteration

dīnanāthāya vibhave namoṃ'dhakaniṣūdine | tripuraghnāya śarvāya brahmaṇe parameṣṭhine

Translation

Salutations to the Lord of the afflicted, the all‑powerful One; salutations to the slayer of Andhaka. Salutations to the destroyer of Tripura, to Śarva, to the Supreme Brahman—the Highest Lord who presides over all.

Word by Word

• dīna-nāthāya: to the protector of the distressed
• dīna-nāthāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dīna (प्रातिपदिक) + nātha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘lord of the poor/distressed’; Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• vibhave: to the mighty one
• vibhave: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: निपात (indeclinable interjection): ‘salutation to’ (governs dative)

• andhaka-niṣūdine: to the slayer of Andhaka
• andhaka-niṣūdine: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: andhaka (प्रातिपदिक) + niṣūdin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘slayer of Andhaka’; Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• tripura-ghnāya: to the destroyer of Tripura
• tripura-ghnāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + pura (प्रातिपदिक) + ghnā (प्रातिपदिक from √han हन्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘destroyer of Tripura’; Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• śarvāya: to Śarva
• śarvāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• brahmaṇe: to Brahman/the Absolute
• brahmaṇe: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग) / also used as masculine in sense ‘Brahman’; Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• parameṣṭhine: to the supreme exalted one
• parameṣṭhine: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + iṣṭhin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘supremely established/exalted one’; Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Tripurāntaka

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: The epithet ‘Brahmaṇe Parameṣṭhine’ and Śiva as supreme presider echoes Kāśī’s theology: Viśvanātha as the lord who grants liberation and rules over all stations; Tripurāntaka motif is also celebrated in Kāśī’s Śaiva kṣetra-mahātmya traditions.

Significance: Kāśī-Viśvanātha darśana is sought for mokṣa and removal of fear of death; the verse’s ‘dīnanātha’ underscores refuge for the afflicted.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: dīnanāthāya vibhave namoṃ'dhakaniṣūdine | tripuraghnāya śarvāya brahmaṇe parameṣṭhine

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Andhaka
• Tripura

FAQs

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

The verse praises Śiva as both the compassionate protector of the distressed and the cosmic destroyer of demonic bondage (Andhaka, Tripura), affirming that the same Lord is the Supreme Brahman who grants liberation when approached with devotion.

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

By naming Śiva through his saving deeds (Tripuraghna, Andhakaniṣūdana) while also calling him Brahman, the verse supports Saguna worship—devotion to the personal Lord in the Liṅga—leading the devotee toward realization of his transcendent, nirguṇa supremacy.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Use these epithets as nāma-japa (name-chanting) alongside the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offering bilva leaves or vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) in Liṅga-pūjā while meditating on Śiva as the remover of fear and bondage.