Shloka 21

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

Kirātākhyam-avatāra; Pāṇḍava-prasaṅga

Devanagari script

किङ्कर्तव्यं क्व गन्तव्यमस्माभिरधुना युधि । समर्था अपि वै सर्वे सत्यपाशेन यन्त्रिताः

Transliteration

kiṅkartavyaṃ kva gantavyamasmābhiradhunā yudhi | samarthā api vai sarve satyapāśena yantritāḥ

Translation

“What, then, should we do, and where should we go now in the midst of this battle? Though we are all capable, we have been restrained and bound by the noose of Truth.”

Word by Word

• kiṃ-kartavyam: what should be done
• kiṃ-kartavyam: Karma (कर्म/predicate question)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + kartavya (कृदन्त, √kṛ धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (what is to be done)

• kva: where
• kva: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/question)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kva (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb: where)

• gantavyam: (where) to go
• gantavyam: Karma (कर्म/predicate question)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gantavya (कृदन्त, √gam धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; भाव्य (gerundive: to be gone)

• asmābhiḥ: by us
• asmābhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• adhunā: now
• adhunā: Kala (काल/time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adhunā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb: now)

• yudhi: in battle
• yudhi: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yudh (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• samarthāḥ: capable
• samarthāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samartha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• api: even/though
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावन/अपि-कारक-अव्यय (particle: even/though)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• sarve: all (of us)
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• satya-pāśena: by the bond of truth
• satya-pāśena: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक) + pāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (bond/rope of truth)

• yantritāḥ: restrained/controlled
• yantritāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/predicate of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yantrita (कृदन्त, √yam/yantr धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘restrained’

Speaker

A group of battle-bound beings/opponents (collective voice) within the Shatarudrasaṃhitā narrative, describing their helplessness before Shiva’s satya (truth) power

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva idea that true bondage (pāśa) is not merely physical—divine truth (satya) itself can restrain ego-driven power, showing that only alignment with Shiva (Pati) frees the bound soul (pashu).

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

Saguna Shiva is portrayed as the active Lord who governs the cosmos through dharma and truth; worship of the Linga trains the devotee to submit the will to Shiva’s order, dissolving the bonds that even mighty beings cannot break.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is satya-niṣṭhā (steadfastness in truth) supported by japa of the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating inner discipline that loosens pāśa (bondage) and aligns the mind with Shiva’s grace.