Shloka 54

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

Kirātākhyam-avatāra; Pāṇḍava-prasaṅga

Devanagari script

तपःस्थानं विचार्य्यैवं ततस्स मुनिसत्तमः । पाण्डवान्धर्मसन्निष्ठान्पुनरेवाब्रवीदिदम्

Transliteration

tapaḥsthānaṃ vicāryyaivaṃ tatassa munisattamaḥ | pāṇḍavāndharmasanniṣṭhānpunarevābravīdidam

Translation

Nachdem er so über den geeigneten Ort für die Askese nachgedacht hatte, sprach jener Höchste unter den Weisen erneut zu den Pāṇḍavas, die fest im Dharma standen, mit folgenden Worten.

Word by Word

• तपः-स्थानम्: place of austerity
• तपः-स्थानम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘तपसः स्थानम्’

• विचार्य: having considered
• विचार्य: Kriya (क्रिया/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + चर् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb)

• ततः: then; thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: तस्मात्-आदेशे अव्यय; क्रम/अपादानार्थे (then/from there)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• मुनि-सत्तमः: the best of sages
• मुनि-सत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘सत्तमः मुनिः’

• पाण्डवान्: the Pāṇḍavas
• पाण्डवान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• धर्म-सन्निष्ठान्: steadfast in dharma
• धर्म-सन्निष्ठान्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्निष्ठ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘धर्मे सन्निष्ठाः’ (steadfast in dharma)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Iteration)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरावृत्तिवाचक अव्यय (adverb)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• अब्रवीत्: said; spoke
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

A foremost sage (munisattama) addressing the Pandavas (narrated within Suta Goswami’s discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Pandavas

FAQs

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

It highlights that spiritual progress begins with discernment: choosing a fitting environment for tapas and approaching it with steadfast dharma—qualities that prepare the seeker for Lord Shiva’s grace and liberation.

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

By emphasizing tapas performed in a proper sacred setting, it aligns with Shaiva practice where disciplined living and holy space support Saguna Shiva worship—often centered on the Linga—as a means to purify the mind and mature devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse implies undertaking tapas in a sanctified place with dharmic discipline; in Shaiva usage this commonly pairs with japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), along with simple observances like bhasma/tripundra and steady meditation.