Shloka 169

Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ

Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony

Devanagari script

एकं वर्षशतं चैव फलाहारस्ततो 5भवम्‌ । द्वितीयं शीर्णपर्णाशी तृतीयं चाम्बुभोजन:

Transliteration

ekaṃ varṣaśataṃ caiva phalāhāras tato 'bhavam | dvitīyaṃ śīrṇaparṇāśī tṛtīyaṃ cāmbubhojanaḥ ||

Translation

ആദ്യത്തെ പൂർണ്ണ നൂറുവർഷം ഞാൻ ഫലാഹാരത്തിൽ മാത്രം ജീവിച്ചു. രണ്ടാം ശതകത്തിൽ വീണുകിടന്ന ഉണങ്ങിയ ഇലകൾ മാത്രം ഭക്ഷിച്ചു; മൂന്നാം ശതകത്തിൽ വെള്ളം മാത്രം സ്വീകരിച്ച് ജീവൻ നിലനിർത്തി.

Word by Word

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वर्षशतम्: a hundred years
• वर्षशतम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष-शत
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• एव: indeed/only
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• फलाहारः: one whose food is fruits (fruit-eater)
• फलाहारः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: फलाहार
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ततः: then/thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• अभवम्: I became/I was
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), First, Singular

• द्वितीयम्: the second
• द्वितीयम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वितीय
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• शीर्णपर्णाशी: one who eats fallen/dry leaves
• शीर्णपर्णाशी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शीर्णपर्णाशिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तृतीयम्: the third
• तृतीयम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृतीय
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अम्बुभोजनः: one whose food is water (water-drinker)
• अम्बुभोजनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बुभोजन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वासुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights tapas (austerity) and disciplined restraint as ethical power: progressively reducing dependence on food—fruits, then fallen leaves, then only water—illustrates endurance, self-control, and commitment to a higher dharmic purpose.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāsudeva narrates a sequence of long austerities undertaken over three centuries, describing the specific regimen of sustenance in each period to emphasize the intensity and sincerity of his ascetic practice.