Shloka 14

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

Devanagari script

अथ चुक्रोध देवेशस्त्रैलोक्यैश्वर्य्यगर्वितः । उवाच वचनं क्रोधात्तं निर्भर्त्स्य जटाधरम्

Transliteration

atha cukrodha deveśastrailokyaiśvaryyagarvitaḥ | uvāca vacanaṃ krodhāttaṃ nirbhartsya jaṭādharam

Translation

Then the Lord of the gods, intoxicated with pride in his sovereignty over the three worlds, became angry. In that fury he spoke harsh words, rebuking the matted-haired ascetic (Śiva).

Word by Word

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक

• cukrodha: became angry
• cukrodha: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: krudh (धातु)
• Form: लिट्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• deveśaḥ: lord of the gods (Indra)
• deveśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva + īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः देवानाम् ईशः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• trailokya-aiśvarya-garvitaḥ: proud due to sovereignty over the three worlds
• trailokya-aiśvarya-garvitaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: trailokya (प्रातिपदिक) + aiśvarya (प्रातिपदिक) + garvita (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः त्रैलोक्यस्य ऐश्वर्येण गर्वितः (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष)

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

• vacanam: words, a statement
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• krodhāt: from anger, out of anger
• krodhāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krodha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; हेतौ

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• nirbhartsya: having scolded
• nirbhartsya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir + bharts (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (Gerund), ‘having rebuked’

• jaṭādharam: the matted-locks bearer (ascetic)
• jaṭādharam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jaṭā + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः ‘जटा धारयति इति’ (one who bears matted locks)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights how even exalted cosmic authority can be eclipsed by ahaṅkāra (ego). From a Śaiva Siddhānta lens, pride binds the soul (paśu) with pasha (bondage), while Śiva—the true Lord (Pati)—remains beyond such agitation, teaching humility as a doorway to grace.

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

Calling Śiva “jaṭādhara” points to Saguna Śiva—His visible ascetic form revered in iconography and in Liṅga worship. The narrative contrast (worldly power vs. the ascetic Lord) reinforces that devotion to the Liṅga is devotion to the Supreme who transcends mere rank and dominion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is ego-purification through japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and steady remembrance of Śiva as Jaṭādhara. A simple discipline is daily mantra-japa with a humble sankalpa, optionally supported by rudrākṣa for focus.