Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

दृष्ट्वा वृहस्पतिस्त्वेनम्प्रज्वलन्तं स्वतेजसा । पुरुषं तं धियामास प्रणनाम हरं द्रुतम्

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvā vṛhaspatistvenamprajvalantaṃ svatejasā | puruṣaṃ taṃ dhiyāmāsa praṇanāma haraṃ drutam

Translation

Seeing the Supreme Person—Hara—blazing with His own innate splendor, Bṛhaspati grew inwardly composed in reverent awareness and at once swiftly bowed down to Him.

Word by Word

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; धातु: दृश्; अर्थे: ‘having seen’

• वृहस्पतिः: Bṛhaspati
• वृहस्पतिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृहस्पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• त्वेनम्: you (him)
• त्वेनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; एतद्रूपं ‘त्वाम्/त्वेनम्’ (you)

• प्रज्वलन्तम्: blazing
• प्रज्वलन्तम्: कर्मविशेषण (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + ज्वल् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• स्वतेजसा: by (his) own splendor
• स्वतेजसा: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व-तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (स्वस्य तेजः)

• पुरुषम्: the Person (being)
• पुरुषम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तम्: him
• तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• धिया: with (his) mind
• धिया: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• आमास: considered / reflected upon
• आमास: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘measured/considered’ (आ + मा)

• प्रणनाम: bowed down
• प्रणनाम: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + नम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• हरम्: Hara (Śiva)
• हरम्: सम्प्रदान/प्रति (Recipient/Target of salutation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; शिवनाम

• द्रुतम्: quickly
• द्रुतम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्रुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb/क्रियाविशेषण)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brihaspati
• Hara
• Purusha

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that true Shiva-darśana naturally awakens inner stillness (dhī) and immediate surrender (praṇāma). In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, the soul (paśu) recognizes Pati’s self-luminous grace (svatejas) and responds with devotion rather than ego.

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

Hara is described as visibly radiant and personal (Saguna), showing that worship begins with perceiving Shiva’s presence and glory. Linga-worship similarly trains the devotee to recognize Shiva as self-effulgent consciousness and to offer humble obeisance and service.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dhyāna followed by namaskāra: contemplate Shiva’s luminous form (tejas) and then offer prostration. This aligns with daily Shaiva practice—japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with reverence, optionally accompanied by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as supports for devotion.