Shloka 68
Kirātāvatāra, Durvāsā-upākhyāna, and the Logic of Divine Rescue
Kirātākhyam-avatāra; Pāṇḍava-prasaṅga
नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इति दत्त्वाशिषन्तेभ्यः पाण्डवेभ्यो मुनीश्वरः । स्मृत्वा शिवपदाम्भोजं व्यासश्चान्तर्दधे क्षणात्
nandīśvara uvāca | iti dattvāśiṣantebhyaḥ pāṇḍavebhyo munīśvaraḥ | smṛtvā śivapadāmbhojaṃ vyāsaścāntardadhe kṣaṇāt
Nandīśvara bersabda: Setelah demikian menganugerahkan berkat kepada para Pāṇḍava yang menerimanya, tuan para resi—Vyāsa—mengingat teratai pada kaki Śiva, lalu seketika lenyap daripada pandangan mereka.
Nandīśvara (Nandi)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Sthala Purana: Vyāsa’s sudden disappearance after remembering Śiva’s lotus-feet mirrors the motif of antardhāna (concealment) under divine ordinance, emphasizing Śiva as the ultimate agent behind yogic/ṛṣi powers.
Significance: Meditation on Śiva’s feet is implied as a direct means to attain protection and yogic mastery; it also signals Śiva’s sovereignty over appearance/disappearance.
Type: stotra
Role: liberating
FAQs
The verse highlights that the highest refuge for sages and devotees alike is Śiva’s lotus-feet; remembrance (smaraṇa) of Śiva seals the fruit of blessings and indicates inward absorption in Pati (the Lord) beyond worldly visibility.
Remembering Śiva’s lotus-feet aligns with Saguna upāsanā—devotion to Śiva with form and attributes—often centered on the Śiva-liṅga; the verse shows how such devotion culminates in immediate spiritual elevation and divine-centered withdrawal from external engagement.
Practice Śiva-smaraṇa: mentally contemplate Śiva’s lotus-feet during japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), ideally after receiving blessings from a teacher, as a simple meditative takeaway from the verse.