Shloka 27

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

Devanagari script

निवसन्ति स्म ते सर्वे व्यासदर्शनकांक्षिणः । शिवभक्तिरता नित्यं भस्मरुद्राक्षधारिणः

Transliteration

nivasanti sma te sarve vyāsadarśanakāṃkṣiṇaḥ | śivabhaktiratā nityaṃ bhasmarudrākṣadhāriṇaḥ

Translation

All of them dwelt there, yearning for the darśana of Vyāsa; ever absorbed in bhakti to Śiva, they continually wore bhasma (sacred ash) and Rudrākṣa beads.

Word by Word

• nivasanti: they dwell/live
• nivasanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√vas (नि+वस् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्, present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd/प्रथमपुरुष), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• sma: indeed/then (past marker)
• sma: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sma (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), past-narrative particle (स्म—भूतार्थ/इतिहासवाचक)

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन)

• sarve: all
• sarve: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन)

• vyāsa-darśana-kāṅkṣiṇaḥ: desiring the sight of Vyāsa
• vyāsa-darśana-kāṅkṣiṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vyāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + darśana (प्रातिपदिक) + kāṅkṣin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन); tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) = ‘vyāsasya darśanaṃ kāṅkṣanti’ (desiring Vyāsa’s sight)

• śiva-bhakti-ratāḥ: absorbed in devotion to Śiva
• śiva-bhakti-ratāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhakti (प्रातिपदिक) + rata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन); tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) = ‘śive bhaktau ratāḥ’ (devoted to Śiva-bhakti)

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya usage (अव्ययवत्), kāla-vācaka adverb (कालवाचक)

• bhasma-rudrākṣa-dhāriṇaḥ: wearing ash and rudrākṣa beads
• bhasma-rudrākṣa-dhāriṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhasma (प्रातिपदिक) + rudrākṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + dhārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन); dvandva (द्वन्द्व) within first members ‘bhasma ca rudrākṣa ca’ + dhārin = bearers of ash and rudrākṣa

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it depicts a community of Śaiva aspirants marked by bhasma and rudrākṣa, awaiting Vyāsa’s darśana as a conduit of śāstra and grace.

Significance: Darśana of a realized guru/ācārya (Vyāsa) is framed as a catalyst for deepening Śiva-bhakti and right practice (sadācāra).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vyasa
• Rudraksha
• Bhasma

FAQs

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

It presents the ideal Shaiva disposition: steadfast longing for the guru-sage (Vyāsa) and unwavering Śiva-bhakti expressed through both inner devotion and Shaiva marks like bhasma and Rudrākṣa.

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

Bhasma and Rudrākṣa are classic aids of Saguna Śiva worship, supporting disciplined remembrance and reverence toward Śiva as the accessible Lord (Pati) who is approached through devotion and observance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular wearing of Rudrākṣa and application of sacred ash (Tripuṇḍra) as a daily vow, coupled with constant Śiva-bhakti—often supported by japa such as the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya").