Shloka 55

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

Kirātākhyam-avatāra; Pāṇḍava-prasaṅga

Devanagari script

व्यास उवाच । श्रूयताम्पाण्डवास्सर्वे कथयामि हितं सदा । शिवं सर्वं परं दृष्ट्वा परं ब्रह्म सताङ्गतिम्

Transliteration

vyāsa uvāca | śrūyatāmpāṇḍavāssarve kathayāmi hitaṃ sadā | śivaṃ sarvaṃ paraṃ dṛṣṭvā paraṃ brahma satāṅgatim

Translation

Vyāsa said: “O Pāṇḍavas, all of you listen. I shall ever speak what is truly beneficial. Having beheld Śiva as the All and as the Supreme, know Him as the Supreme Brahman—the final refuge and ultimate goal of the righteous.”

Word by Word

• व्यासः: Vyāsa
• व्यासः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (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

• श्रूयताम्: let (it) be heard
• श्रूयताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive): ‘let it be heard’

• पाण्डवाः: O Pāṇḍavas
• पाण्डवाः: Sambodhyah (सम्बोध्य/Addressed)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Sambodhyah (सम्बोध्य)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifier) पाण्डवाः

• कथयामि: I tell
• कथयामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथय् (धातु, णिजन्त)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• हितम्: what is beneficial
• हितम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘दृष्ट्वा’ इत्यस्य कर्म

• सर्वम्: as all (everything)
• सर्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier) शिवम्

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण शिवम्

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive): ‘having seen’

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण ब्रह्म

• ब्रह्म: Brahman (Absolute)
• ब्रह्म: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘कथयामि’ इत्यस्य कर्म (understood)

• सताम्: of the good (saints)
• सताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; ‘गति’ इत्यस्य सम्बन्ध (of the good)

• गतिम्: goal, refuge
• गतिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ब्रह्म इत्यस्य अप्पोजिशन/विशेष्य (as goal)

Speaker

Vyasa

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames Śiva as Para-brahman and the satāṃ gati (final refuge), a doctrinal basis for all Śiva-kṣetra pilgrimage as movement toward the Lord (Pati).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Pandavas
• Brahman

FAQs

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

It identifies Śiva as both immanent (the All) and transcendent (Supreme Brahman), establishing Him as the highest refuge and final goal (gati) for seekers of liberation.

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

By declaring Śiva as both ‘Sarva’ and ‘Para,’ the verse supports Saguna worship (such as Śiva-liṅga devotion) as a valid means to realize the Nirguna/Para-Brahman reality of Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is śravaṇa (reverent listening) and contemplation on Śiva as the Supreme; this is commonly paired in Shaiva practice with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to internalize that realization.