Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 37

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

Devanagari script

त्वत्पादकमलस्यैव सेवनादगमन्पराम् । गतिं योगधना नामप्यगम्यां सर्वदुर्लभाम्

Transliteration

tvatpādakamalasyaiva sevanādagamanparām | gatiṃ yogadhanā nāmapyagamyāṃ sarvadurlabhām

Translation

உமது தாமரைத் திருவடிகளின் சேவையால் அவர்கள் பரமகதியை அடைந்தனர்—‘யோகதனம்’ எனப் பெயர்பெற்ற அந்த ஒப்பற்ற நிலை, பக்தியற்றோர்க்கு எட்டாததும் அனைவருக்கும் மிக அரிதுமானதும் ஆகும்।

Word by Word

• त्वत्-पाद-कमलस्य: of your lotus-feet
• त्वत्-पाद-कमलस्य: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् + पाद + कमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphasis)

• सेवनात्: from serving; due to service
• सेवनात्: Apadana/Hetu (अपादान/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थ-अपादान

• अगमन्: they went; attained
• अगमन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गम् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• पराम्: supreme; highest
• पराम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; ‘गतिम्’ इति विशेषण

• गतिम्: state; goal; path
• गतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• योगधनाः: those whose wealth is yoga; yogic-rich
• योगधनाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग-धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (योगस्य धनम्/धनं येषाम्—प्रयोगे बहुवचन-कर्तृ); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• नाम: namely; by name
• नाम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: नामार्थक/उपपद-अव्यय (particle: “by name/namely”)

• अपि: also; even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• अगम्याम्: unattainable
• अगम्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-गम्य (कृदन्त; √गम् (धातु) यत्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; नञ्-समास/निषेध; ‘गतिम्’ इति विशेषण; “not to be reached”

• सर्वदुर्लभाम्: most difficult to obtain
• सर्वदुर्लभाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (“altogether hard-to-obtain”); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; ‘गतिम्’ इति विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames Śiva’s grace as granting parā-gati (supreme goal) described as ‘yoga-dhana’—the true wealth—aligning pilgrimage/bhakti with both siddhi and liberation-oriented attainment.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva-bhakti—expressed as humble service to the Lord’s lotus feet—grants the highest liberation, a rare yogic fulfillment that cannot be reached by mere worldly effort.

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

Serving Shiva’s “lotus feet” points to personal (saguṇa) devotion; in practice this is embodied through Linga-worship, where reverent service (pūjā, abhiṣeka, upacāras) becomes the direct means to Shiva’s grace and the supreme state.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse implies sevā-bhakti: regular Shiva-pūjā (especially Linga-abhiṣeka) and steady japa of the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” integrating devotion with yogic discipline.