Shloka 5

Yatinātha-līlā: Śiva’s Test of the Bhilla Devotees at Arbuda Mountain

Devanagari script

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्र गेहे भिल्लस्य शङ्करः । भूत्वा यतिवपुः सायं परीक्षार्थं समाययौ

Transliteration

etasminnantare tatra gehe bhillasya śaṅkaraḥ | bhūtvā yativapuḥ sāyaṃ parīkṣārthaṃ samāyayau

Translation

Meanwhile, there in the Bhilla’s house, Śaṅkara arrived at evening, assuming the form of an ascetic in order to test him.

Word by Word

• एतस्मिन्: in this
• एतस्मिन्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• अन्तरे: in the meantime
• अन्तरे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘अन्तरे’ = ‘in the interval/meanwhile’

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• गेहे: in the house
• गेहे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• भिल्लस्य: of the Bhilla (hunter)
• भिल्लस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिल्ल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• शङ्करः: Śaṅkara
• शङ्करः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया; ‘having become’

• यतिवपुः: the form of an ascetic
• यतिवपुः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यति (प्रातिपदिक) + वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (कर्म/प्रकार), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘यतेः वपुः’ (body/form of an ascetic)

• सायम्: in the evening
• सायम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सायम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• परीक्षार्थम्: for testing
• परीक्षार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परीक्षा (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोजनार्थकं रूपम्; द्वितीया-एकवचनं नपुंसकलिङ्गरूपेण ‘for the purpose of examination’; तत्पुरुषः ‘परीक्षायाः अर्थम्’

• समाययौ: came / arrived
• समाययौ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhikṣāṭana

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shankara
• Bhilla

FAQs

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

It shows Śiva’s compassionate method of revealing true devotion: He tests the devotee’s sincerity, humility, and dharma by appearing in a simple, approachable form, indicating that grace is given to inner bhakti rather than outer identity.

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

Śiva appears here as Saguna—taking a visible form (a yati) to guide and test the devotee. Such līlās reinforce that while the Linga signifies the formless Pati, the Lord also manifests with form to uplift beings and confirm their devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse implies the practice of serving holy ascetics and guests as Śiva Himself (ātithi-sevā) with a devotional attitude; in Shaiva practice this is supported by remembrance of the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while offering hospitality and charity.