Shloka 31

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

Kirātākhyam-avatāra; Pāṇḍava-prasaṅga

Devanagari script

तद्गुणानेव गणयेन्महतो वस्तुमात्रतः । आश्रयस्य वशादेव पुंसो वै जायते प्रभो

Transliteration

tadguṇāneva gaṇayenmahato vastumātrataḥ | āśrayasya vaśādeva puṃso vai jāyate prabho

Translation

O Lord, one should recount only the attributes of the Supreme Reality, insofar as a limited measure can grasp a great object; for the individual soul’s very ‘being’ and ‘becoming’ arise solely according to the power of its support—Śiva, the ultimate refuge.

Word by Word

• तत्: those
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); demonstrative used adjectivally

• गुणान्: qualities
• गुणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• एव: only/indeed
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphasis

• गणयेत्: should count/consider
• गणयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गणय् (धातु)
• Form: Denominative/causative-like from √गण्; Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• महतः: from the great (thing/person)
• महतः: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन); used with वस्तु

• वस्तु: of the entity/thing
• वस्तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन) (in compound with मात्रतः)

• मात्रतः: merely/only by measure
• मात्रतः: Hetu/Avadhāraṇa (हेतु/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मात्र (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Ablatival adverb (तसिल्/तस्), “only to the extent of / merely”

• आश्रयस्य: of the support/refuge
• आश्रयस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• वशात्: due to the power/control
• वशात्: Hetu (हेतु/पञ्चमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphasis

• पुंसः: of a man/person
• पुंसः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुम्स्/पुंस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), assertion

• जायते: arises/is born
• जायते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• प्रभो: O lord
• प्रभो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that the soul’s existence and transformation are not independent; they occur by the power of the ultimate support (āśraya), understood in Shaiva Siddhanta as Pati—Lord Shiva—who upholds and grants liberation.

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

The Linga signifies Shiva as the substratum beyond full mental measure; devotees may praise and enumerate His qualities (saguṇa upāsanā) while recognizing that the Supreme exceeds complete description, being the very support of all.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) through japa of the Panchakshara—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—while contemplating Shiva as āśraya (the inner support) behind all experiences and changes.