Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

तद्भावस्य परीक्षार्थं यतिरूपस्स शंकरः । महालीलातरः प्रीत्या भीतं प्रोवाच दीनगीः

Transliteration

tadbhāvasya parīkṣārthaṃ yatirūpassa śaṃkaraḥ | mahālīlātaraḥ prītyā bhītaṃ provāca dīnagīḥ

Translation

To test the true disposition of his heart, Śaṅkara assumed the form of an ascetic. Delighting in His great līlā, the Supreme Lord affectionately spoke to the frightened one in humble, plaintive words.

Word by Word

• तद्भावस्य: of his disposition
• तद्भावस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘तस्य भावः’ (his disposition/state)

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

• यतिरूपः: in ascetic form
• यतिरूपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यति (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘यतेः रूपम्’ → ‘यतिरूपः’ (one having ascetic form)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

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

• महालीलातरः: very sportive
• महालीलातरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + लीलातर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘महान् लीलातरः’ (very playful/sportive)

• प्रीत्या: with affection
• प्रीत्या: Hetu/Karaṇa (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (करण/हेतु), एकवचन

• भीतम्: frightened
• भीतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √भी)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग-रूपे द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मपदस्य विशेषण

• प्रोवाच: said
• प्रोवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• दीनगीः: (he) of humble speech
• दीनगीः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीन (प्रातिपदिक) + गीर्/गीः (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘दीनः गीः यस्य’ इत्यर्थे बहुव्रीहिवत् प्रयोगः; here as epithet of speaker ‘one with humble speech’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhikṣāṭana

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Shankara)

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva’s grace working through “testing” (parīkṣā): the Lord reveals the devotee’s inner disposition and ripens humility and surrender, which Shaiva tradition treats as essential for liberation and divine favor.

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

Śiva appearing as an ascetic is a Saguna manifestation—His compassionate, accessible form within līlā. Such narratives support personal worship (including Liṅga-upāsanā) by showing the Lord actively engaging devotees to awaken bhakti and right understanding.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is inner examination with humility: approach Śiva with reverence, repeat the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and cultivate fearless surrender—seeing trials as Śiva’s līlā meant to mature devotion.