Shloka 68
Kirātāvatāra, Durvāsā-upākhyāna, and the Logic of Divine Rescue
Kirātākhyam-avatāra; Pāṇḍava-prasaṅga
नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इति दत्त्वाशिषन्तेभ्यः पाण्डवेभ्यो मुनीश्वरः । स्मृत्वा शिवपदाम्भोजं व्यासश्चान्तर्दधे क्षणात्
nandīśvara uvāca | iti dattvāśiṣantebhyaḥ pāṇḍavebhyo munīśvaraḥ | smṛtvā śivapadāmbhojaṃ vyāsaścāntardadhe kṣaṇāt
Nandīśvara sprach: Nachdem er so den Pāṇḍavas, die sie empfingen, seinen Segen gewährt hatte, gedachte der Herr unter den Weisen—Vyāsa—der lotusgleichen Füße Śivas und entschwand in einem Augenblick ihrem Blick.
Nandīśvara (Nandi)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Sthala Purana: Vyāsa’s sudden disappearance after remembering Śiva’s lotus-feet mirrors the motif of antardhāna (concealment) under divine ordinance, emphasizing Śiva as the ultimate agent behind yogic/ṛṣi powers.
Significance: Meditation on Śiva’s feet is implied as a direct means to attain protection and yogic mastery; it also signals Śiva’s sovereignty over appearance/disappearance.
Type: stotra
Role: liberating
FAQs
The verse highlights that the highest refuge for sages and devotees alike is Śiva’s lotus-feet; remembrance (smaraṇa) of Śiva seals the fruit of blessings and indicates inward absorption in Pati (the Lord) beyond worldly visibility.
Remembering Śiva’s lotus-feet aligns with Saguna upāsanā—devotion to Śiva with form and attributes—often centered on the Śiva-liṅga; the verse shows how such devotion culminates in immediate spiritual elevation and divine-centered withdrawal from external engagement.
Practice Śiva-smaraṇa: mentally contemplate Śiva’s lotus-feet during japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), ideally after receiving blessings from a teacher, as a simple meditative takeaway from the verse.