Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

अथ गुर्विन्द्रयोर्ज्ञात्वागमनं शंकरस्तयोः । परीक्षितुं च तद्भावं स्वदर्शनरतात्मनोः

Transliteration

atha gurvindrayorjñātvāgamanaṃ śaṃkarastayoḥ | parīkṣituṃ ca tadbhāvaṃ svadarśanaratātmanoḥ

Translation

Then Śaṅkara, learning that the Guru and Indra were drawing near, went forth to meet them—wishing to test the inner disposition of those two whose minds were absorbed in the bliss of beholding Him.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/now)

• गुरु-इन्द्रयोः: of the guru and Indra
• गुरु-इन्द्रयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (gen. du.)

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + क्त्वा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (absolutive); क्रियाविशेषण (having known)

• आगमनम्: the arrival
• आगमनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु) + अन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (neut. acc. sg.)

• शंकरः: Śaṅkara
• शंकरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masc. nom. sg.)

• तयोः: of those two
• तयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; सर्वनाम-रूप (gen. du.)

• परीक्षितुम्: to test
• परीक्षितुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-ईक्ष् (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive), प्रयोजनार्थ (to test)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तद्भावम्: their disposition/state
• तद्भावम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम) + भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (तस्य भावः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (masc. acc. sg.)

• स्वदर्शनरतात्मनोः: of the two whose minds were intent on their own vision
• स्वदर्शनरतात्मनोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक) + रत (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (स्वदर्शने रतौ आत्मानौ यस्य/योः); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, द्विवचन (gen. du.); तयोः इति विशेषण-सम्बन्ध

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Śiva anticipates the arrival and chooses to ‘test’ (parīkṣituṃ) their bhāva—an archetypal purāṇic pattern where the Lord veils Himself to reveal the devotee’s inner maturity.

Significance: Teaches that proximity to Śiva is not merely spatial; eligibility is measured by bhāva (inner disposition) under tirodhāna (divine concealment).

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Indra

FAQs

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

It highlights that Śiva looks beyond status and words to the devotee’s bhāva (inner disposition); divine “tests” reveal sincerity, humility, and readiness for grace.

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

The verse centers on svadarśana—encountering Saguna Śiva through His accessible presence; in Linga-worship too, the fruit depends on bhāva, not mere external performance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate darśana-bhāva in daily pūjā—offerings with focused mind, japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and self-examination of intention (bhāva-śuddhi) before worship.