Shloka 1

Kirātāvatāra, Durvāsā-upākhyāna, and the Logic of Divine Rescue

Kirātākhyam-avatāra; Pāṇḍava-prasaṅga

Devanagari script

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । शृणु प्राज्ञ किराताख्यमवतारम्पिनाकिनः । मूकं च हतवान्प्रीतो योऽर्जुनाय वरन्ददौ

Transliteration

nandīśvara uvāca | śṛṇu prājña kirātākhyamavatārampinākinaḥ | mūkaṃ ca hatavānprīto yo'rjunāya varandadau

Translation

Nandīśvara berkata: “Wahai yang bijaksana, dengarlah penjelmaan Pemegang Pināka (Śiva) yang dikenal sebagai Kirāta. Dengan berkenan, Baginda membunuh Mūka lalu mengurniakan anugerah kepada Arjuna.”

Word by Word

• नन्दीश्वरः: Nandīśvara
• नन्दीश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दीश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

• प्राज्ञ: O wise one
• प्राज्ञ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/vocative), एकवचन

• किरात-आख्यम्: named 'Kirāta'
• किरात-आख्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: किरात (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (modifies अवतारम्)

• अवतारम्: incarnation; descent
• अवतारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवतार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• पिनाकिनः: of Pinākin (Śiva, bearer of the bow Pināka)
• पिनाकिनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिनाकिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• मूकम्: Mūka (name of the demon)
• मूकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

• हतवान्: having slain; slayer of
• हतवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्तवतु-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोग (agentive)

• प्रीतः: pleased
• प्रीतः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/Hetu (क्रियाविशेषण/हेतु)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रीत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; भाववाचक विशेषणम्

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम

• अर्जुनाय: to Arjuna
• अर्जुनाय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• वरम्: a boon
• वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

Speaker

Nandishvara (Nandi)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; it introduces Śiva’s Kirāta (hunter) avatāra who tests Arjuna, slays the demon Mūka, and grants the Pāśupata boon.

Significance: Frames Śiva as Pati who both removes obstacles (slaying Mūka) and bestows anugraha (boon) after testing devotion/valor.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nandi
• Arjuna
• Muka
• Kirata

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva as Pati (the Lord) who assumes a Saguna form (Kirāta) to protect dharma, destroy obstructive forces (Mūka), and bestow grace (anugraha) upon a sincere seeker like Arjuna.

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

While the Liṅga points to Śiva’s transcendent reality, this verse emphasizes that the same Supreme Lord also becomes approachable through Saguna manifestations, responding personally to devotion, tapas, and righteous intent.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is steadfast devotion and disciplined practice: worship Śiva with mantra-japa (especially “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), cultivate humility, and seek Śiva’s grace for the removal of inner ‘Mūka’-like obstacles (pride, delusion, violence).