Shloka 13

Kedāreśvara-pratiṣṭhā: Nara-Nārāyaṇa’s Worship and Śiva’s Abiding as Jyoti

Devanagari script

यो वै हि पाण्डवान्दृष्ट्वा माहिषं रूपमास्थितः । मायामास्थाय तत्रैव पलायनपरोऽभवत्

Transliteration

yo vai hi pāṇḍavāndṛṣṭvā māhiṣaṃ rūpamāsthitaḥ | māyāmāsthāya tatraiva palāyanaparo'bhavat

Translation

Indeed, on seeing the Pāṇḍavas, he assumed the form of a buffalo; resorting to illusion right there, he became intent only on fleeing.

Word by Word

• यः: he who
• यः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक-यत्

• वै: indeed
• वै: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

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

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रियाविशेषण (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund) — ‘having seen’

• माहिषम्: buffalo (form)
• माहिषम्: विशेषण (Adjectival to रूपम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: माहिष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ‘buffalo-like/of a buffalo’

• रूपम्: form
• रूपम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• आस्थितः: having assumed
• आस्थितः: कर्ता (Agent; participial predicate of यः)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-स्था (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — ‘having assumed/standing in’

• मायाम्: illusion/magic
• मायाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• आस्थाय: having assumed
• आस्थाय: पूर्वकाल-क्रियाविशेषण (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund) — ‘having resorted to/assuming’

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• एव: just/indeed
• एव: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (restrictive particle)

• पलायनपरः: intent on fleeing
• पलायनपरः: विशेषण (Adjectival to यः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पलायन + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः पलायने परः (सप्तमी/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः) — ‘intent on fleeing’

• अभवत्: became/was
• अभवत्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Kedāranātha

Sthala Purana: Śiva, to test and redirect the Pāṇḍavas’ approach, veiled Himself through māyā by taking a buffalo form and attempting to flee; this concealment becomes the prelude to His later gracious manifestation at Kedāra.

Significance: Highlights the doctrine that the Lord both conceals (tirodhāna) and later reveals (anugraha); the seeker must persist beyond appearances and divine ‘evasions’.

Characters & Entities

• Pandavas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how adharma-propelled fear makes one take refuge in māyā—changing appearances and seeking escape—whereas the Shaiva path teaches steadiness in truth and surrender to Pati (Shiva), the Lord beyond illusion.

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

By contrasting deceptive form-taking with the stable refuge of Shiva, it implicitly points to Saguna Shiva worship—especially the Linga—as an anchoring focus that cuts through māyā and restores dharmic clarity amid turmoil.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchakshara mantra ("Om Namah Shivaya") with calm breath and mind, along with Tripuṇḍra-bhasma remembrance of impermanence, to avoid being driven by fear and illusion.