Shloka 50

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

Kirātākhyam-avatāra; Pāṇḍava-prasaṅga

Devanagari script

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इत्येतद्वचनं श्रुत्वा व्यासो हर्षसमन्वितः । उवाच पाण्डवान्प्रीत्या स्मृत्वा शिवपदांबुजम्

Transliteration

nandīśvara uvāca | ityetadvacanaṃ śrutvā vyāso harṣasamanvitaḥ | uvāca pāṇḍavānprītyā smṛtvā śivapadāṃbujam

Translation

Nandīśvara said: Having thus heard these words, Vyāsa—filled with joy—recollected the lotus-feet of Lord Śiva and lovingly addressed the Pāṇḍavas.

Word by Word

• नन्दीश्वरः: Nandīśvara
• नन्दीश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दीश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरणसूचक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• वचनम्: speech; statement
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• व्यासः: Vyāsa
• व्यासः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• हर्ष-समन्वितः: endowed with joy
• हर्ष-समन्वितः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हर्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + समन्वित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुष (instrumental sense): ‘हर्षेण समन्वितः’

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पाण्डवान्: the Pāṇḍavas
• पाण्डवान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• प्रीत्या: with affection
• प्रीत्या: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; हेतौ/भावे—‘with affection’

• स्मृत्वा: having remembered
• स्मृत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• शिव-पद-अम्बुजम्: Śiva’s lotus-feet
• शिव-पद-अम्बुजम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘शिवस्य पदाम्बुजम्’

Speaker

Nandishvara (Nandi)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Nandishvara
• Vyasa
• Pandavas
• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights a Shaiva Siddhanta ethic: before teaching or acting, the devotee anchors the mind in Śiva (Pati) through smaraṇa of His lotus-feet, so that guidance arises from devotion and grace rather than ego.

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

Remembering Śiva’s lotus-feet indicates personal (saguṇa) devotion—approaching the Lord with love and reverence. In practice, this aligns with beginning Linga-worship by mentally bowing to Śiva and offering one’s speech and actions as service.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple practice is smaraṇa and praṇāma before any recitation: mentally contemplate Śiva’s feet, then speak or chant—optionally preceded by the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to steady the mind in devotion.