Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

खण्डेस्मिन्भारते विप्रा नरनारायणेश्वरः । केदारेशः प्रपूज्यश्च सर्वैर्जीवैस्सुभक्तितः

Transliteration

khaṇḍesminbhārate viprā naranārāyaṇeśvaraḥ | kedāreśaḥ prapūjyaśca sarvairjīvaissubhaktitaḥ

Translation

O brāhmaṇas, in this very Bhārata-khaṇḍa, the Lord known as Nara-Nārāyaṇeśvara—Kedāreśa—should be worshipped by all living beings with excellent devotion.

Word by Word

• खण्डे: in the region/section
• खण्डे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• अस्मिन्: in this
• अस्मिन्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• भारते: in Bhārata (India)
• भारते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• विप्राः: O brāhmaṇas
• विप्राः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; संबोधनार्थे अपि प्रयुज्यते (often used as address)

• नरनारायणेश्वरः: Lord of Nara and Nārāyaṇa
• नरनारायणेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक) + नारायण (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘नरनारायणयोः ईश्वरः’

• केदारेशः: Kedāreśa
• केदारेशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केदारेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘केदारस्य ईशः’

• प्रपूज्यः: is to be worshipped
• प्रपूज्यः: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, क्तव्य/यत्-प्रत्यय (Gerundive/Passive necessity), पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा एकवचन; with उपसर्ग ‘प्र-’; ‘to be worshipped/should be worshipped’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• सर्वैः: by all
• सर्वैः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; सर्वनामसदृश-विशेषण (pronominal adjective)

• जीवैः: by beings
• जीवैः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• सुभक्तितः: with sincere devotion
• सुभक्तितः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb) ‘सुभक्तितः’ = ‘from/with good devotion’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Kedāranātha

Sthala Purana: Kedāreśa is identified with ‘Nara-Nārāyaṇeśvara’—Śiva presiding over the tapas-kṣetra of Nara and Nārāyaṇa—thereby universalizing his worship obligation across all beings in Bhārata-khaṇḍa.

Significance: Frames Kedāra not as a sectarian site but as a universal refuge: all jīvas should worship with su-bhakti, implying that Śiva as Pati is the ultimate recipient and liberator of all souls.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kedaresha
• Nara
• Narayana

FAQs

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

It declares Kedāreśa (a Jyotirliṅga form of Śiva) as especially worthy of worship in Bhārata, emphasizing that liberation-oriented grace flows through sincere bhakti offered to Śiva as Pati (the Lord) by all jīvas.

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

By naming Kedāreśa, it points to Saguna Śiva worship through the Jyotirliṅga—Śiva made approachable in a sacred form and place—where devotion becomes the direct means of communion with the Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse highlights su-bhakti; a practical takeaway is Jyotirliṅga pūjā with japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), along with standard Śaiva observances like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa as supportive disciplines.