Shloka 36

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

Devanagari script

त्वत्पादकमलस्यैव सेवनाद्भुवि मानवाः । नाद्रियन्ते सुरान्रुद लोकैश्वर्यं च भुंजते

Transliteration

tvatpādakamalasyaiva sevanādbhuvi mānavāḥ | nādriyante surānruda lokaiśvaryaṃ ca bhuṃjate

Translation

O Rudra, by serving Your lotus-feet alone, people on earth no longer depend on the gods; they come to enjoy sovereignty and prosperity in the worlds.

Word by Word

• त्वत्-पाद-कमलस्य: of your lotus-feet
• त्वत्-पाद-कमलस्य: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् + पाद + कमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध: “thy lotus-feet”); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• एव: indeed; alone
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• सेवनात्: from serving; due to service
• सेवनात्: Apadana/Hetu (अपादान/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; अपादान (ablative: “from/by reason of service”)

• भुवि: on earth
• भुवि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• मानवाः: men; humans
• मानवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• आद्रियन्ते: respect; honor
• आद्रियन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + √दृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘आ’ उपसर्ग

• सुरान्: the gods
• सुरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन

• रुद: O Rudra
• रुद: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद (प्रातिपदिक; रुद्र-सम्बोधन-रूप)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; संबोधन

• लोकैश्वर्यम्: sovereignty of the world
• लोकैश्वर्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक-ऐश्वर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: लोकस्य ऐश्वर्यम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• भुञ्जते: enjoy; partake of
• भुञ्जते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating the Rudra-saṃhitā account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Devas

FAQs

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

It teaches that single-pointed devotion (sevā) to Rudra’s lotus-feet makes Shiva the primary refuge (Pati), so the devotee is not spiritually dependent on lesser divine agencies for fulfillment and grace.

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

Serving Shiva’s “lotus-feet” aligns with Saguna worship—approaching Shiva through accessible forms like the Śiva-liṅga, pūjā, and mantra—through which His grace grants both worldly well-being and higher sovereignty rooted in dharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice daily Śiva-sevā: liṅga-pūjā with water/abhisheka, Panchākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and humble surrender at Shiva’s feet; this is the implied means of gaining Shiva’s favor rather than seeking boons from many devas.