Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 6

कैलासमार्गे शङ्करस्य परीक्षा — Śiva Tests the Approachers on the Kailāsa Path

Devanagari script

महातेजस्विनं शांतं जटासंबद्धमस्तकम् । महाबाहुं महोरस्कं गौरं नयनभीषणम्

Transliteration

mahātejasvinaṃ śāṃtaṃ jaṭāsaṃbaddhamastakam | mahābāhuṃ mahoraskaṃ gauraṃ nayanabhīṣaṇam

Translation

Il vit un être d’une splendeur immense et pourtant parfaitement paisible, la tête ceinte de mèches de jaṭā ; aux bras puissants, à la poitrine large, au teint clair, et dont la vue inspirait une crainte sacrée.

Word by Word

• दिगम्बरः: Digambara (the sky-clad one)
• दिगम्बरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिक् (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमास (दिग्-अम्बरः = दिशः अम्बरं यस्य/दिगम्बरः) रूढि-नाम

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रमसूचक (then)

• तत्-मार्गम्: that path
• तत्-मार्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (सर्वनामपूर्वपद)

• आरुद्ध्य: having obstructed
• आरुद्ध्य: Kriya (पूर्वक्रिया/अनुक्रम)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-रुध् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यबन्त/क्त्वार्थक अव्यय (gerund); 'having blocked/obstructed'

• सद्गतिः: the good path/destination
• सद्गतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक) + गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सत्-गति = शुभा गति)

• सताम्: of the good/virtuous (people)
• सताम्: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• जटा-बद्धेन: with (his) matted locks tied
• जटा-बद्धेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जटा (प्रातिपदिक) + बद्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक; तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (जटाभिः बद्धः) — करणवाचक

• शिरसा: with (his) head
• शिरसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• अतिष्ठत्: stood
• अतिष्ठत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• संशोभित-आननः: whose face was splendid/bright
• संशोभित-आननः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-शुभ् (धातु) → शोभित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + आनन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (यस्य आननं संशोभितं सः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents Saguna Shiva as the union of majesty and stillness—immense tejas (divine power) held within śānti (inner peace), pointing to Shiva as Pati who masters all energies without being disturbed by them.

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

While the Liṅga signifies Shiva’s transcendent, formless depth, this verse supports Saguna upāsanā by giving contemplative attributes—jata, radiance, serenity—so the devotee can focus the mind and mature toward the Liṅga’s higher, nirguṇa meaning.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Dhyāna: visualize Shiva as radiant and serene with jata-bound head while softly repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating steadiness (śānti) alongside devotion (bhakti).