Shloka 28

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

Devanagari script

योगं संद्रढयिष्यामि महायोगविचक्षणः । काश्यां गुहान्तरे संस्थो दिव्यदेशे कुशास्तरिः

Transliteration

yogaṃ saṃdraḍhayiṣyāmi mahāyogavicakṣaṇaḥ | kāśyāṃ guhāntare saṃstho divyadeśe kuśāstariḥ

Translation

Skilled in the Great Yoga, I shall now make My Yoga firm and unwavering—dwelling in Kāśī, seated within a cave in that divine region, upon a seat of sacred kuśa grass.

Word by Word

• yogam: yoga (discipline)
• yogam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम् (Singular)

• saṃdraḍhayiṣyāmi: I will strengthen/firm up
• saṃdraḍhayiṣyāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: saṃ-dṛḍh (धातु/धात्वर्थ-निर्माण; causative of √dṛḍh/√dṛṃh sense 'to make firm')
• Form: लृट्-लकारः (Simple Future), परस्मैपदम्, उत्तम-पुरुषः (1st), एकवचनम् (Singular); णिच्-प्रयोगः (causative): दृढं करिष्यामि (I will strengthen)

• mahā-yoga-vicakṣaṇaḥ: skilled in great yoga
• mahā-yoga-vicakṣaṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + yoga (प्रातिपदिक) + vicakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम् (Singular); तत्पुरुषः: महायोगे विचक्षणः (skilled in great yoga)

• kāśyām: in Kāśī (Vārāṇasī)
• kāśyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative/7th), एकवचनम् (Singular)

• guhāntare: inside a cave
• guhāntare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guhā (प्रातिपदिक) + antara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative/7th), एकवचनम् (Singular); तत्पुरुषः: गुहायाः अन्तरम् (inside a cave)

• saṃsthaḥ: situated/abiding
• saṃsthaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃstha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम् (Singular); विशेषणम् (standing/being situated)

• divya-deśe: in a divine place
• divya-deśe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: divya (प्रातिपदिक) + deśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative/7th), एकवचनम् (Singular); कर्मधारयः: दिव्यः देशः (in a divine place)

• kuśa-astariḥ: (one) with a kuśa-grass seat/mat
• kuśa-astariḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuśa (प्रातिपदिक) + astarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम् (Singular); तत्पुरुषः: कुशैः आस्तरिः/आस्तरणं यस्य (one having kuśa as a mat/seat)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Kāśī is celebrated as Śiva’s own city where liberation is granted; Śiva abides there as the inner teacher, and the kṣetra is famed for bestowing mokṣa (often expressed as the Lord’s saving instruction at death).

Significance: Darśana in Kāśī is held to accelerate liberation; the verse’s cave-yoga imagery aligns Kāśī with inner-guhā (heart-cave) contemplation and steadfast yoga.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights steadfastness (dṛḍhatā) in Yoga as the means to stabilize consciousness in Shiva—showing that true realization requires firm, disciplined absorption, supported by sacred place (Kāśī) and pure conduct.

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

Kāśī is celebrated as Shiva’s own sacred realm; meditating there evokes Saguna Shiva’s grace while pointing to Nirguna realization through Yoga—worship and inner absorption converge in the Lord who is both form and formless.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A disciplined yogic sitting in a pure place on a kuśa seat is implied; practitioners may support meditation with Shiva-mantra japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and a steady posture, cultivating unwavering concentration.