Shloka 59
Karṇa’s advance against the Pāṇḍava host; Arjuna’s clash with the Saṃśaptakas (कर्णस्य पाण्डवसेनाप्रवेशः—अर्जुनस्य संशप्तकसंप्रहारः)
ईशानायाप्रमेयाय नियन्त्रे चर्मवाससे । तपोरताय पिड्डाय व्रतिने कृत्तिवाससे
īśānāyāprameyāya niyantre carmavāsase | taporatāya piṅgalāya vratine kṛttivāsase ||
ドゥルヨーダナはシヴァに恭しく讃歌を捧げた。「礼拝いたします、イーシャーナよ——量り知れず、完全には把握し得ぬ御方、万有を統べ、抑え治める主よ。あなたは不敗にして、誰も阻み得ず、打ち倒し得ません。獣皮をまとい、常に苦行に専心し、黄褐の相を帯び、厳しく誓戒を守り、『クリッティヴァーサ（皮をまとう者）』として名高いあなたは、まことに崇拝に値します。謹んで礼を捧げます。」
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the Mahābhārata’s recurring tension between human agency and a higher cosmic order: in the midst of war, Duryodhana turns to Śiva as the immeasurable controller (niyantṛ), implying that ultimate power and restraint lie beyond mere martial strength. Ethically, it shows how devotion can be invoked even by morally compromised actors, raising the question of whether prayer seeks transformation or merely advantage.
Duryodhana addresses Śiva with a string of epithets—Īśāna, Aprameya, Niyantṛ, Carmavāsas, Taporata, Piṅgala, Vratin, Kṛttivāsa—offering praise and salutation. The stuti functions as an appeal for divine attention and support during the intense events of the Karṇa Parva.