Shloka 6

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

Kirātākhyam-avatāra; Pāṇḍava-prasaṅga

Devanagari script

स्वीकृत्य पाण्डवैस्तैस्तैः स्नानार्थं प्रेषितास्तदा । दुर्वासःप्रमुखाश्चैव मुनयश्च तपस्विनः

Transliteration

svīkṛtya pāṇḍavaistaistaiḥ snānārthaṃ preṣitāstadā | durvāsaḥpramukhāścaiva munayaśca tapasvinaḥ

Translation

Having been duly received by the Pāṇḍavas with fitting honors, those ascetic sages—led by Durvāsā—were then sent by them to bathe.

Word by Word

• स्वीकृत्य: having accepted
• स्वीकृत्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्वी-कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive); धातु: कृ with उपसर्ग ‘स्वी’ (to accept)

• पाण्डवैः: by the Pāṇḍavas
• पाण्डवैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• तैः: by those
• तैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम; विशेषणरूपेण (as demonstrative)

• तैः: (various) those
• तैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; पुनरुक्ति (emphatic repetition: ‘those and those’)

• स्नानार्थम्: for bathing
• स्नानार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्नान + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (accusative used adverbially); समास: स्नान-अर्थम् (चतुर्थी/तत्पुरुष: ‘for the purpose of bathing’)

• प्रेषिताः: were sent
• प्रेषिताः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रेषित (कृदन्त; √इष्/प्रेष् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) used predicatively; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive sense): ‘were sent’

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• दुर्वासः: Durvāsā
• दुर्वासः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; ऋषिनाम (proper noun)

• प्रमुखाः: with Durvāsā as chief
• प्रमुखाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासार्थ: दुर्वासः-प्रमुखाः (तत्पुरुष: ‘having Durvāsā as chief’)

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

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• मुनयः: sages
• मुनयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

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

• तपस्विनः: ascetic, practicing austerities
• तपस्विनः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तपस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘munayaḥ’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Pandavas
• Durvasa
• Munis

FAQs

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

It highlights dharma as a foundation for Shiva-bhakti: honoring realized ascetics with humility and proper service purifies the mind, reduces ego, and prepares the seeker for grace (anugraha) and right worship of Pati (Shiva).

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

In Shaiva practice, external worship (Linga-puja) is strengthened by inner purity and right conduct; serving sages and maintaining reverence for tapas is treated as a supportive limb of devotion that aligns the devotee with Saguna Shiva’s compassionate order (dharma).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is atithi-seva with purity: receiving guests respectfully, offering water for washing and bathing, and maintaining a sattvic, prayerful attitude—ideally accompanied by silent japa of the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") while serving.