Shloka 59

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

Kirātākhyam-avatāra; Pāṇḍava-prasaṅga

Devanagari script

तस्मात्सेव्यस्सदा शभ्भुर्भुक्तिमुक्तिफलेप्सुभिः । पुरुषश्शङ्करः साक्षाद्दुष्टहन्ता सतांगतिः

Transliteration

tasmātsevyassadā śabhbhurbhuktimuktiphalepsubhiḥ | puruṣaśśaṅkaraḥ sākṣādduṣṭahantā satāṃgatiḥ

Translation

Therefore, Śambhu should always be worshipped by those who seek the fruits of both worldly enjoyment and liberation. For Śaṅkara is truly the Supreme Lord in person—the destroyer of the wicked and the sure refuge and final goal of the righteous.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore, from that
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; हेतौ/तस्मात् (therefore)

• सेव्यः: should be served
• सेव्यः: Vidhana (विधान/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सेव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण: ‘to be served’

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

• शम्भुः: Śambhu
• शम्भुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्ता

• भुक्ति-मुक्ति-फल-एप्सुभिः: by those who desire the fruits of enjoyment and liberation
• भुक्ति-मुक्ति-फल-एप्सुभिः: Karana (करण/Instrument; agent in passive sense ‘to be served by’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक) + एप्सु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः: ‘भुक्तिमुक्त्योः फले’ (fruits of enjoyment and liberation) + ‘एप्सु’ (desiring) → ‘by those desiring the fruits...’

• पुरुषः: the Person (Supreme Being)
• पुरुषः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अप्पोजिशन/विधेय

• शङ्करः: Śaṅkara
• शङ्करः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अप्पोजिशन to पुरुषः

• साक्षात्: directly, in person
• साक्षात्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण/निपात (adverb: directly, manifestly)

• दुष्ट-हन्ता: slayer of the wicked
• दुष्ट-हन्ता: Vidhana (विधान/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + हन् (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष + कृदन्त (हन्तृ): ‘slayer of the wicked’

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

• गतिः: refuge, goal
• गतिः: Vidhana (विधान/Predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विधेय (predicate noun)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the teaching of the Shatarudra Saṃhitā to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Positions Śambhu as the universal object of sevā for both bhukti and mukti; reinforces kṣetra-sevā and liṅga-upāsanā as direct approach to the Supreme Person.

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It declares Śiva (Śambhu/Śaṅkara) as the direct Supreme Lord and the ultimate refuge of the virtuous, emphasizing that devotion to Him can mature from seeking worldly welfare (bhukti) into the highest goal—liberation (mukti).

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

By stating that Śambhu is to be worshipped for both bhukti and mukti, it supports Saguna upāsanā—approaching Shiva through accessible forms such as the Śiva-liṅga—through which grace is received and bondage is removed.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A clear takeaway is nitya-śiva-pūjā (daily worship) with bhakti—such as offering water/bilva to the liṅga and japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with the intent of purification and eventual liberation.