Shloka 13

अवधूतेश्वरलीला (Avadhūteśvara-līlā) — Śiva Tests Indra’s Pride on the Way to Kailāsa

Devanagari script

इत्थं पुनः पुनः पृष्टः शक्रेण स दिगम्बरः । नोवाच किंचिद्भगवाञ्शक्रदर्प्पजिघांसया

Transliteration

itthaṃ punaḥ punaḥ pṛṣṭaḥ śakreṇa sa digambaraḥ | novāca kiṃcidbhagavāñśakradarppajighāṃsayā

Translation

Thus, though questioned again and again by Śakra (Indra), that sky-clad Lord spoke nothing—intent on subduing and destroying Indra’s pride.

Word by Word

• ittham: thus, in this manner
• ittham: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ittham (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण

• punaḥ: again (repeatedly)
• punaḥ: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, पुनरुक्ति-बलार्थ

• pṛṣṭaḥ: (having been) asked
• pṛṣṭaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: praś (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगे ‘asked’

• śakreṇa: by Śakra (Indra)
• śakreṇa: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• digambaraḥ: the sky-clad one (naked ascetic)
• digambaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dig + ambara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः ‘दिग् एव अम्बरं यस्य’ (one whose garment is the directions)

• na: not
• na: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध-निपात

• uvāca: spoke
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• kiṃcit: anything
• kiṃcit: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अनिश्चितार्थक ‘anything’

• bhagavān: the Lord
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• śakra-darpa-jighāṃsayā: with the desire to destroy Śakra’s pride
• śakra-darpa-jighāṃsayā: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakra (प्रातिपदिक) + darpa (प्रातिपदिक) + jighāṃsā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; समासः शक्रस्य दर्पं जिघांसया (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shatarudra Samhita account to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; Śiva’s deliberate non-response functions as a ‘pride-destruction’ prelude—veiling (tirodhāna) that precipitates transformation.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Indra (Shakra)

FAQs

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

Shiva’s deliberate silence teaches that spiritual authority is not compelled by worldly power; the Lord removes darpa (ego) as a form of grace, because pride is a key pasha (bond) obstructing moksha.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Shiva’s leela as the compassionate Lord who corrects the devotee’s or deity’s arrogance. In Linga-worship, this becomes a practical lesson: approach Shiva with humility and surrender, not entitlement or status.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice mauna (sacred restraint of speech) with japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offering the fruit of practice to Shiva to dissolve ego; cultivate humility alongside Shaiva disciplines like vibhuti (tripundra) and rudraksha as reminders of renunciation.