Shloka 53

Devanagari script

कथितस्तव संक्षेपाद्वादः क्षुवदधीचयोः । नृपाप्तशापयोस्तात ब्रह्मविष्ण्वोः शिवं विना

Transliteration

kathitastava saṃkṣepādvādaḥ kṣuvadadhīcayoḥ | nṛpāptaśāpayostāta brahmaviṣṇvoḥ śivaṃ vinā

Translation

O dear one, I have briefly related to you the dispute between Kṣuvada and Dadhīca, and also the king’s curse that befell Brahmā and Viṣṇu—showing that, apart from Śiva, there is no final refuge or resolution.

Word by Word

• कथितः: has been told
• कथितः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थक (predicative: 'has been told')

• तव: to you/for you; your
• तव: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• संक्षेपात्: briefly; in summary
• संक्षेपात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संक्षेप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th case), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थ/अपादानार्थ (from/briefly)

• वादः: dispute; debate
• वादः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• क्षुवत्: of Kṣuvat
• क्षुवत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षुवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

• अधीचयोः: of (the two) Adhīci
• अधीचयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधीचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), द्विवचन; नाम (proper name)

• नृपाप्तशापयोः: of the two curses received by the king
• नृपाप्तशापयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप-आप्त-शाप (प्रातिपदिक); नृप + आप्त + शाप
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), द्विवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative), समासार्थः: 'नृपेण आप्तौ शापौ' / 'नृप-प्राप्तौ शापौ' (two curses obtained/received by the king)

• तात: dear one; son
• तात: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (vocative), एकवचन; संबोधनपद

• ब्रह्मविष्ण्वोः: of Brahmā and Viṣṇu
• ब्रह्मविष्ण्वोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्-विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक); ब्रह्मन् + विष्णु
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (copulative): 'ब्रह्मा च विष्णुश्च'

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• विना: without
• विना: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अपवाद)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपपद-निपात (preposition-like particle) governing द्वितीया (accusative)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The narrator’s summary (saṃkṣepa) explicitly draws the doctrinal conclusion: even Brahmā and Viṣṇu are subject to curse-fruit and lack final resolution ‘without Śiva’; this frames Sthāneśvara and Śiva-kṣetras as ultimate refuge.

Significance: Phala-logic: the episode teaches śaraṇāgati to Śiva as the final recourse; pilgrimage and devotion are validated as superior to reliance on deva-status or royal power.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Dadhichi
• Kshuvada

FAQs

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

The verse frames all conflicts and even divine consequences (like curses affecting Brahmā and Viṣṇu) as ultimately resolvable only through Śiva, affirming Śiva as Pati—the supreme Lord and final ground of grace and liberation.

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

By stating 'Śivaṃ vinā' (apart from Śiva), it supports turning toward Saguna Śiva—often worshiped as the Śivaliṅga—as the accessible focus of devotion through which order, clarity, and divine favor are attained.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to take refuge in Śiva through daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and Liṅga-pūjā, seeking Śiva’s anugraha (grace) as the true resolution of obstacles.