Shloka 31

Devanagari script

हरिकेशाय मुण्डाय कृशायोत्तारणाय च । भास्कराय सुतीर्थाय देवदेवाय रंहसे,जो यमके अनुकूल रहनेवाले काल हैं, अव्यक्त स्वरूप आकाश ही जिनका केश है, जो सदाचारसम्पन्न, सबका कल्याण करनेवाले, कमनीय, पिंगलनेत्र, सदा स्थित रहनेवाले और अन्तर्यामी पुरुष हैं, जिनके केश भूरे एवं पिंगलवर्णके हैं, जिनका मस्तक मुण्डित है, जो दुबले-पतले और भवसागरसे पार उतारनेवाले हैं, जो सूर्यस्वरूप, उत्तम तीर्थ और अत्यन्त वेगशाली हैं, उन देवाधिदेव महादेवको नमस्कार है

Transliteration

harikeśāya muṇḍāya kṛśāyottāraṇāya ca | bhāskarāya sutīrthāya devadevāya raṁhase ||

Translation

Salam hormat kepada Mahādeva, Dewa para dewa: berambut cokelat-kekuningan, berkepala tercukur, bertubuh ramping, dan yang menyeberangkan makhluk melintasi samudra samsara; bercahaya laksana matahari, menjadi tīrtha tertinggi, dan berdaya secepat tak terbendung.

Word by Word

हरिकेशायto the one with tawny/greenish hair (Hari-keśa)

मुण्डायto the shaven-headed one

कृशायto the lean one

उत्तारणायto the deliverer / ferrier across

चand

भास्करायto Bhāskara (the Sun-like one)

सुतीर्थायto the excellent sacred ford/pilgrimage (su-tīrtha)

देवदेवायto the god of gods

रंहसेto the swift/impetuous one (speed)

Speaker

व्यास उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vyāsa

Mahādeva (Śiva)

Bhāskara (Sun, as epithet)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches reverence for the Supreme as both ascetic and savior: Śiva’s outward austerity (shaven head, leanness) signifies inner mastery, while his role as 'uttāraṇa' and 'sutīrtha' presents him as the compassionate passage that helps beings cross suffering and moral peril.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vyāsa utters a brief stuti (praise) to Mahādeva, invoking multiple epithets that highlight Śiva’s ascetic form and salvific power. In the broader epic context, such invocations typically sanctify the moment, seek divine support, and frame events within dharma and cosmic order.