Shloka 17

Kirātāvatāra, Durvāsā-upākhyāna, and the Logic of Divine Rescue

Kirātākhyam-avatāra; Pāṇḍava-prasaṅga

Devanagari script

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इत्युक्त्वान्तर्दधे कृष्ण आश्वास्याथ च पाण्डवान् । द्वारकामगमच्छीघ्रं स्मरच्छिवपदाम्बुजम्

Transliteration

nandīśvara uvāca | ityuktvāntardadhe kṛṣṇa āśvāsyātha ca pāṇḍavān | dvārakāmagamacchīghraṃ smaracchivapadāmbujam

Translation

Nandīśvara sprach: Nachdem er so geredet hatte, entschwand Kṛṣṇa ihren Blicken. Nachdem er die Pāṇḍavas getröstet hatte, begab er sich eilends nach Dvārakā, dabei unablässig der lotosgleichen Füße Śivas gedenkend.

Word by Word

• nandīśvaraḥ: Nandīśvara
• nandīśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nandīśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (नन्दिनः ईश्वरः)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: इति-कारक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• uktvā: having said
• uktvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive)

• antardadhe: disappeared/withdrew
• antardadhe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhā (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; उपसर्गः अन्तर्-

• kṛṣṇaḥ: Kṛṣṇa
• kṛṣṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• āśvāsya: having consoled/encouraged
• āśvāsya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-śvas (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive); उपसर्गः आ-

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरबोधक अव्यय (then)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (and)

• pāṇḍavān: the Pāṇḍavas
• pāṇḍavān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāṇḍava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन

• dvārakām: to Dvārakā
• dvārakām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvārakā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; गत्यर्थे कर्म (destination as object)

• agamat: went
• agamat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• śīghram: quickly
• śīghram: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śīghra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of manner: quickly)

• smarat: remembering
• smarat: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘kṛṣṇaḥ’ इति विशेषणम्

• śiva-pada-ambujam: Śiva’s lotus-feet
• śiva-pada-ambujam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + pada (प्रातिपदिक) + ambuja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शिवस्य पदम् = feet; पदाम्बुजम् = lotus-feet)

Speaker

Nandishvara (Nandi)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Highlights Hari’s (Kṛṣṇa’s) Śiva-smaraṇa: sectarian harmony motif where remembrance of Śiva’s lotus-feet is portrayed as protective and grace-bearing during transitions and travel.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nandi
• Krishna
• Pandavas

FAQs

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

It highlights Shiva-smaraṇa (constant remembrance of Śiva’s lotus-feet) as an inner refuge: even amid worldly duties, devotion aligns the mind to Pati (Śiva), loosening pāśa (bondage) and steadying the soul toward liberation.

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

Remembering “Śiva’s lotus-feet” points to Saguna devotion—holding a sacred form and attribute in the heart. This same bhāva is cultivated in Liṅga-worship, where the devotee fixes awareness on Śiva as the compassionate Lord who grants protection and grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa with Shiva’s Name (especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) alongside mental smaraṇa of Śiva’s lotus-feet; this can be supported by wearing rudrākṣa and applying tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as reminders of continuous devotion.