Shloka 26

व्यासशौनकादिसंवादः | Vyāsa–Śaunaka and the Sages: Opening Dialogue of the Kailāsa-saṃhitā

Devanagari script

दीर्घसत्रं वितन्वन्तो रुद्रमध्वरनायकम् । प्रीणयन्तः परं भावमैश्वर्य्यं ज्ञातुमिच्छवः

Transliteration

dīrghasatraṃ vitanvanto rudramadhvaranāyakam | prīṇayantaḥ paraṃ bhāvamaiśvaryyaṃ jñātumicchavaḥ

Translation

In dem Wunsch, die höchste Souveränität (aiśvarya) zu erkennen, dehnten sie ein langes satra aus, indem sie Rudra zum Herrn und Leiter des Opferritus machten; und in erhabenster innerer Hingabe suchten sie Ihn zu erfreuen.

Word by Word

• दीर्घसत्रम्: a long sacrificial session
• दीर्घसत्रम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीर्घ + सत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• वितन्वन्तः: spreading, conducting
• वितन्वन्तः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-तन् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• रुद्रम्: Rudra
• रुद्रम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• अध्वरनायकम्: leader of the sacrifice
• अध्वरनायकम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्वर + नायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘अध्वरस्य नायकः’; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; रुद्रस्य विशेषणरूपेण

• प्रीणयन्तः: pleasing
• प्रीणयन्तः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रीणय्/प्री (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of bhāvam)

• भावम्: state, disposition
• भावम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ऐश्वर्यम्: lordship, divine power
• ऐश्वर्यम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐश्वर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘ज्ञातुम्’ इत्यस्य कर्म

• ज्ञातुम्: to know
• ज्ञातुम्: प्रयोजन (प्रयोजनम्/Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive); क्रियार्थक-भावे (purpose)

• इच्छवः: desiring
• इच्छवः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इष्/इच्छ् (धातु) + उ (कृदन्त)
• Form: इच्छु-प्रातिपदिक (desiderative adjective); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of ṛṣayaḥ understood)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Highlights Rudra as adhvara-nāyaka (lord of sacrifice), implying that yajña and prolonged satra become spiritually fruitful when oriented to Śiva, culminating in grace and insight into aiśvarya.

Mantra Metadata

Type: rudram

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva’s supreme lordship (aiśvarya) is known not merely by ritual complexity, but by making Rudra the true center of worship and offering Him one’s highest inner devotion (para-bhāva), through which His grace is awakened.

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

By naming Rudra as the presiding Lord of the sacrifice, the verse points to Saguna worship—approaching Shiva as the accessible Lord who receives offerings. In Linga-worship too, the focus is to enthrone Shiva as the ‘nāyaka’ (chief) of one’s practice, so the outer act becomes a vessel for inner devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Sustain worship with steadiness (a ‘long’ sādhana), keep Shiva as the presiding focus, and cultivate para-bhāva—supported by japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and simple Shaiva observances like bhasma/tripundra and Rudrākṣa where appropriate.