Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

सनत्कुमार उवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य गुरोर्वाक्यं देवदेवो महेश्वरः । उवाच करुणासिन्धुर्मेघनिर्ह्रादया गिरा

Transliteration

sanatkumāra uvāca | ityākarṇya gurorvākyaṃ devadevo maheśvaraḥ | uvāca karuṇāsindhurmeghanirhrādayā girā

Translation

Sanatkumāra said: Thus hearing the words of his guru, Mahādeva—the God of gods, Maheśvara—an ocean of compassion, spoke in a voice that resounded like the rumbling of clouds.

Word by Word

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

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

• इति: thus
• इति: Vākyopasaṃhāra (वाक्योपसंहार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; quotative

• आकर्ण्य: having heard
• आकर्ण्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-√कर्ण्/कृ (धातु: कर्णयति/श्रवणार्थ)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/त्वान्त), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• गुरोः: of the teacher
• गुरोः: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• वाक्यम्: speech / words
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• देवदेवः: God of gods
• देवदेवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महेश्वरः: Maheśvara
• महेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; देवदेवः इत्यस्य समानाधिकरणम्

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

• करुणासिन्धुः: ocean of compassion
• करुणासिन्धुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करुणा (प्रातिपदिक) + सिन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; "करुणा एव सिन्धुः"

• मेघनिर्ह्रादया: with (a voice) like thunder of clouds
• मेघनिर्ह्रादया: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेघ (प्रातिपदिक) + निर्ह्राद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण गिरा-शब्दस्य—"मेघस्य निर्ह्राद इव"

• गिरा: with speech / voice
• गिरा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Maheshvara

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Shiva as both supreme (Devadeva, Maheśvara) and supremely compassionate (karuṇāsindhu), showing that divine authority in Shaiva thought is inseparable from grace that guides devotees toward liberation.

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

By portraying Shiva speaking with tangible, awe-inspiring qualities (a cloud-rumbling voice), the text emphasizes Saguna Shiva—worshipped through the Linga and devotional practices—while implying that this accessible form is the channel of grace from the Supreme.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is attentive śravaṇa (devout listening) to the guru and to Shiva’s teaching; in practice this pairs well with japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and steady bhakti-centered meditation on Mahādeva’s compassionate presence.