Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

अवधूतस्वरूपोऽभून्नानालीलाकरः प्रभुः । दिगंबरो महाभीमो ज्वलदग्निसमप्रभः

Transliteration

avadhūtasvarūpo'bhūnnānālīlākaraḥ prabhuḥ | digaṃbaro mahābhīmo jvaladagnisamaprabhaḥ

Translation

The Lord assumed the form of the Avadhūta—supremely detached—yet He, the sovereign, displayed manifold divine sports. Sky-clad and exceedingly awe-inspiring, He shone with a radiance like blazing fire.

Word by Word

• अवधूतस्वरूपः: of ascetic (avadhūta) form
• अवधूतस्वरूपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवधूत (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (अवधूतस्य स्वरूपः/अवधूत-स्वरूपः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अभूत्: became/was
• अभूत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नाना: various
• नाना: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाना (अव्यय/विशेषणार्थ)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (various)

• लीलाकरः: performer of (divine) play
• लीलाकरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लीला (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (लीलां करोति); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• प्रभुः: the Lord
• प्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masc. nom. sg.)

• दिगंबरः: sky-clad (naked)
• दिगंबरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिक् (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (दिग् एव अम्बरं यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• महाभीमः: very terrible
• महाभीमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + भीम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• ज्वलदग्निसमप्रभः: having a radiance like blazing fire
• ज्वलदग्निसमप्रभः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्वलत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + सम (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (ज्वलदग्निना समा प्रभा यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the manifestations of Lord Shiva to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Śiva adopts an avadhūta-like, fearsome, fire-radiant guise—typical of the Lord’s concealment that simultaneously protects the sacred space and reveals the seeker’s readiness.

Significance: Frames Kailāsa as a threshold realm: entry is mediated by Śiva’s own self-disguise; awe (bhaya-miśra adbhuta) becomes a purifier of ego.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents Shiva as both the Avadhūta (perfect renunciate) and the divine Lord of līlā, teaching that true liberation arises from inner detachment while recognizing the Lord’s active grace in the world.

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna Shiva—His visible attributes like sky-clad asceticism and fiery splendor—supporting devotional contemplation (dhyāna) that culminates in realizing the Linga as the sign of the formless Supreme.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Rudra’s blazing radiance while repeating the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), cultivating avadhūta-like vairāgya; this pairs naturally with Shaiva disciplines like vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as supports for steadiness.