Shloka 32

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

Kirātākhyam-avatāra; Pāṇḍava-prasaṅga

Devanagari script

लघुत्वं च महत्त्वं च नात्र कार्य्या विचारणा । उत्तमानां स्वभावोयं यद्दीनप्रतिपालनम्

Transliteration

laghutvaṃ ca mahattvaṃ ca nātra kāryyā vicāraṇā | uttamānāṃ svabhāvoyaṃ yaddīnapratipālanam

Translation

Whether one is insignificant or great, no deliberation is needed here: it is the very nature of the noble to protect and uphold the helpless and afflicted.

Word by Word

• लघुत्वम्: smallness
• लघुत्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लघुत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• महत्त्वम्: greatness
• महत्त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• अत्र: here/in this matter
• अत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of place (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• कार्य्या: to be done/necessary
• कार्य्या: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicate adjective agreeing with विचारणा

• विचारणा: consideration/deliberation
• विचारणा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विचारणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• उत्तमानाम्: of the noble/excellent (people)
• उत्तमानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• स्वभावः: nature
• स्वभावः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• यत्: namely/that (which is)
• यत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative particle used to introduce explanation (यदर्थे अव्ययीभाव)

• दीन-प्रतिपालनम्: protection of the helpless
• दीन-प्रतिपालनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीन (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रतिपालन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: दीनानां प्रतिपालनम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that true spiritual nobility expresses itself as compassion—protecting the distressed without calculating status—reflecting Shiva’s grace toward all beings (pashu) under His lordship (Pati).

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

In Saguna worship, the Linga represents Shiva’s accessible grace; this verse frames devotion as mirroring Shiva’s own nature—steadfast support of the helpless—so worship is validated by compassionate conduct.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a vow of dāna and seva for the needy, treating compassionate service as an offering (naivedya) to Shiva.