Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

सनत्कुमार उवाच । बृहस्पतिरिति स्तुत्वा शंकरं लोकशंकरम् । पादयो पातयामास तस्येशस्य पुरंदरम्

Transliteration

sanatkumāra uvāca | bṛhaspatiriti stutvā śaṃkaraṃ lokaśaṃkaram | pādayo pātayāmāsa tasyeśasya puraṃdaram

Translation

Sanatkumāra said: Having praised Śaṅkara—the benefactor of the worlds—(Indra) invoked Bṛhaspati; then Purandara (Indra) caused himself to fall at the feet of that Lord, the supreme Īśa.

Word by Word

• सनत्कुमारः: Sanatkumāra
• सनत्कुमारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनत्कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• बृहस्पतिः: Bṛhaspati
• बृहस्पतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बृहस्पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• इति: thus; saying
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• स्तुत्वा: having praised
• स्तुत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्तु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): “having praised”

• शंकरम्: Śaṅkara
• शंकरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• लोकशंकरम्: benefactor of the world
• लोकशंकरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक-शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: लोकस्य शंकरः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; ‘शंकरम्’ इति विशेषण

• पादयोः: at (his) two feet
• पादयोः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7) / षष्ठी (6), द्विवचन; अत्र अधिकरणार्थे (locative dual: “at the feet”)

• पातयामास: made (him) fall; prostrated
• पातयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पत् (धातु) (णिच् causative)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative): “caused to fall/placed down”

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• ईशस्य: of the Lord
• ईशस्य: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• पुरंदरम्: Purandara (Indra)
• पुरंदरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरंदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; इन्द्रस्य नाम

Speaker

Sanatkumara

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Shiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Models the correct hierarchy for devotees and even devas: Indra (deveśa) ultimately prostrates to Śaṅkara, ‘loka-śaṅkara’, indicating Śiva as the final refuge beyond celestial offices.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sanatkumara
• Brihaspati
• Indra (Purandara)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights śaraṇāgati (humble surrender): even Indra, the king of devas, gains protection and clarity by praising Śaṅkara and bowing at His feet, affirming Shiva as the supreme refuge (Pati) beyond worldly rank.

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

By praising Śaṅkara as lokaśaṅkara (the world’s benefactor) and prostrating at His feet, the verse models Saguna-bhakti—approaching Shiva in a personal, grace-giving form, as devotees similarly approach the Śiva-liṅga with reverence and surrender.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is namaskāra and stuti: begin worship with Shiva-stotra and full prostration (pañcāṅga/ṣaṣṭāṅga namaskāra), mentally placing oneself at Shiva’s feet while repeating a Shiva-mantra such as “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”