Shloka 12

Kirātāvatāra, Durvāsā-upākhyāna, and the Logic of Divine Rescue

Kirātākhyam-avatāra; Pāṇḍava-prasaṅga

Devanagari script

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच । श्रूयतां पाण्डवाः श्रेष्ठाः श्रुत्वा कर्तव्यमेव हि । मद्वृत्तान्तं विशेषेण शिवसेवासमन्वितम्

Transliteration

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca | śrūyatāṃ pāṇḍavāḥ śreṣṭhāḥ śrutvā kartavyameva hi | madvṛttāntaṃ viśeṣeṇa śivasevāsamanvitam

Translation

Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: “Listen, O best of the Pāṇḍavas. Having heard, it must indeed be put into practice. I shall relate my account in particular—an account accompanied by the service and worship of Lord Śiva.”

Word by Word

• श्री-कृष्णः: Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• श्री-कृष्णः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• श्रूयताम्: let (it) be heard
• श्रूयताम्: Kriyā (आज्ञार्थक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person; passive/impersonal), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive/impersonal: ‘let it be heard’)

• पाण्डवाः: O Pāṇḍavas
• पाण्डवाः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे अपि (addressing)

• श्रेष्ठाः: best/excellent
• श्रेष्ठाः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of पाण्डवाः)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriyā-samānādhikaraṇa (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), धातु: श्रु, अर्थ: श्रवणं कृत्वा

• कर्तव्यम्: to be done; must be done
• कर्तव्यम्: Kriyā (विधेय/आवश्यकता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Gerundive/Obligatory), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भावे प्रयोग: ‘it must be done’

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (indeed)

• हि: for/indeed
• हि: Sambandha (हेतु/निश्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चयार्थक अव्यय (for/indeed)

• मत्-वृत्तान्तम्: my account/episode
• मत्-वृत्तान्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् (अस्मद्-षष्ठी/मम-सम्बन्ध) + वृत्तान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-समास (‘मम वृत्तान्तः’), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विशेषेण: especially
• विशेषेण: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति एकवचन (Instrumental used adverbially), अर्थ: विशेषतः (especially)

• शिव-सेवा-समन्वितम्: endowed with service to Shiva
• शिव-सेवा-समन्वितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + सेवा (प्रातिपदिक) + समन्वित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘शिवसेवया समन्वितम्’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of मद्वृत्तान्तम्)

Speaker

Śrī Kṛṣṇa

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Pandavas
• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes that sacred hearing (śravaṇa) must mature into lived practice (kartavya). In Shaiva understanding, devotion becomes fruitful when Shiva-sevā is embodied as disciplined worship and conduct, not merely listened to as a story.

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

By declaring his narrative as ‘accompanied by Shiva-sevā,’ Kṛṣṇa frames the teaching as oriented toward practical devotion to Saguna Śiva—commonly expressed through Linga-worship, offerings, and reverent service that purifies the devotee and turns the mind toward Pati (Śiva).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The direct takeaway is: hear teachings on Śiva and then perform Shiva-sevā—regular worship with mantra-japa (such as the Pañcākṣarī ‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya’), along with simple daily acts of reverence and service in a spirit of surrender.