Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 44
कैलासमार्गे शङ्करस्य परीक्षा — Śiva Tests the Approachers on the Kailāsa Path
सनत्कुमार उवाचु । इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य शंकरस्य बृहस्पतिः । उवाच क्लिष्टरूपश्च भयव्याकुलमानसः
sanatkumāra uvācu | iti śrutvā vacastasya śaṃkarasya bṛhaspatiḥ | uvāca kliṣṭarūpaśca bhayavyākulamānasaḥ
Sanatkumāra thưa: Nghe những lời ấy của Śaṅkara, Bṛhaspati—dáng vẻ căng thẳng, tâm trí rối bời vì sợ hãi—liền cất tiếng nói.
Sanatkumara
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
It highlights the soul’s (and even the devas’ teacher’s) trembling before the supreme authority of Śaṅkara—pointing to Shiva as Pati, the Lord who subdues fear and ego, drawing beings toward surrender and right understanding.
Śaṅkara is approached here as Saguna Shiva—personally speaking and directing events. Such narrative reverence supports personal worship (including Linga-upāsanā), where the devotee turns fear and agitation into devotion and refuge in Shiva.
A practical takeaway is fear-transformation through Shiva-smaraṇa and japa—especially the Panchākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya)—with steadying disciplines like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as supports for composure and surrender.