Shloka 16

ऋषभचरित्रवर्णनम् (Ṛṣabha-caritra-varṇanam) — “Account of Ṛṣabha’s Sacred Narrative”

Devanagari script

शिष्यैः साहाय्यं व्यासस्य करिष्ये चतुरानन । निवृत्तिमार्गं सुदृढं वर्त्तयिष्ये कलाविह

Transliteration

śiṣyaiḥ sāhāyyaṃ vyāsasya kariṣye caturānana | nivṛttimārgaṃ sudṛḍhaṃ varttayiṣye kalāviha

Translation

O four-faced Brahmā, with My disciples I shall assist Vyāsa, and I shall firmly establish the path of Nivṛtti—the inward way that turns from worldly entanglement toward liberation—throughout this age.

Word by Word

• शिष्यैः: with disciples
• शिष्यैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• साहाय्यम्: help; assistance
• साहाय्यम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साहाय्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• व्यासस्य: of Vyāsa
• व्यासस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• करिष्ये: I will do
• करिष्ये: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• चतुरानन: O four-faced one (Brahmā)
• चतुरानन: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुरानन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (चतुर् + आनन)

• निवृत्तिमार्गम्: the path of withdrawal (renunciation)
• निवृत्तिमार्गम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निवृत्ति + मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (निवृत्तेः मार्गः)

• सुदृढम्: very firm
• सुदृढम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa of कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुदृढ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; 'निवृत्तिमार्गम्' इत्यस्य विशेषण

• वर्त्तयिष्ये: I will set in motion / maintain
• वर्त्तयिष्ये: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative sense: to cause to proceed/maintain)

• कलाविह: O Kalāviha (epithet/name)
• कलाविह: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलाविह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; पाठभेदसम्भवः (epithet as vocative)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Kali-yuga dharma-protection through establishing nivṛtti (liberating discipline)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Vyasa

FAQs

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

This verse presents Śiva as the compassionate Pati (Lord) who safeguards liberation in Kali-yuga by strengthening nivṛtti-mārga—turning the soul away from binding desires and toward grace, devotion, and inner realization.

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

Nivṛtti is practically supported through Saguna worship—especially Liṅga-upāsanā—which disciplines the mind, purifies karma, and orients the devotee toward the formless truth that Śiva embodies.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to adopt Kali-yuga-friendly nivṛtti practices: steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), simple Liṅga-pūjā, and daily inner restraint (sense-withdrawal) as a lived renunciation.