Shloka 7

Svagati-varṇana

Description of the Supreme State / One’s True Attainment

Devanagari script

पुरा पुत्रार्थमगमत्कैलासं शंकरालयम् । वसुदेवसुतः कृष्णस्तपस्तप्तुं शिवस्य हि

Transliteration

purā putrārthamagamatkailāsaṃ śaṃkarālayam | vasudevasutaḥ kṛṣṇastapastaptuṃ śivasya hi

Translation

In former times, desiring a son, Kṛṣṇa—the son of Vasudeva—went to Kailāsa, the abode of Śaṅkara, to perform austerities and seek the grace of Lord Śiva.

Word by Word

• पुरा: formerly, once
• पुरा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• पुत्रार्थम्: for the sake of a son
• पुत्रार्थम्: Hetu/Purpose (प्रयोजन/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पुत्रस्य अर्थः)

• अगमत्: went
• अगमत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• कैलासम्: to Kailāsa
• कैलासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैलास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शंकरालयम्: the abode of Śaṅkara
• शंकरालयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर + आलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शंकरस्य आलयः)

• वसुदेवसुतः: Vasudeva's son
• वसुदेवसुतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसुदेव + सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वसुदेवस्य सुतः)

• कृष्णः: Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तपः: austerity, penance
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तप्तुम्: to perform (austerity)
• तप्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (infinitive), परस्मैपद-भावः

• शिवस्य: of Śiva
• शिवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Pashupatinatha

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Kedāranātha

Sthala Purana: Kailāsa as Śaṅkara’s ālaya evokes the Himalayan Śiva-landscape; Kedāra is the paradigmatic Kailāsa-proximate Jyotirliṅga in Purāṇic imagination (though this verse itself names Kailāsa, not Kedāra explicitly).

Significance: Himalayan Śiva-kṣetra pilgrimage symbolizes ascent from desire (putrārtha) toward grace; tapas directed to Śiva is portrayed as efficacious for boons and ultimately liberation.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Krishna
• Vasudeva
• Kailasa
• Shankara

FAQs

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

It presents tapas and surrender to Pati (Lord Shiva) as a legitimate Shaiva path for receiving both worldly blessings (putra) and inner purification, showing Shiva as the compassionate bestower of grace.

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

By calling Kailasa “Shankara’s abode,” the verse emphasizes Saguna Shiva—approachable through devotion and austerity—whose presence is also traditionally accessed through Linga worship as a focused support for meditation and grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is Shiva-oriented tapas: disciplined japa (especially the Panchakshara “Om Namah Shivaya”), meditation on Shiva, and observances like purity, restraint, and worship with bhasma and rudraksha as supportive Shaiva disciplines.