Shloka 28
एकोनविंशतिशिवावतारवर्णनम्
Description of the Nineteen Manifestations/Avatāras of Śiva
एकविंशे युगे तस्मिन् व्यासो वाचःश्रवा यदा । तदाहं दारुको नाम तस्माद्दारुवनं शुभम्
ekaviṃśe yuge tasmin vyāso vācaḥśravā yadā | tadāhaṃ dāruko nāma tasmāddāruvanaṃ śubham
ఆ ఇరవై ఒకటవ యుగంలో వ్యాసుడు వాచఃశ్రవా అయినప్పుడు, నా పేరు దారుకుడు; ఆ పేరునుండే శుభమైన ‘దారువనం’ అరణ్యం ప్రసిద్ధి చెందింది.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Purāṇic account to the sages)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Bhikṣāṭana
Sthala Purana: Dāruvana (Dārukāvana) is the famed ‘forest of deodars/trees’ where Śiva appears in a concealed/antinomian guise (often as a naked mendicant) to humble ritual-proud sages and reveal the supremacy of Śiva beyond mere karma-kāṇḍa.
Significance: Represents the tirtha-idea that pride in ritual without devotion is bondage; pilgrimage/śravaṇa here yields humility and Śiva-jñāna.
Cosmic Event: yuga-cycle enumeration (21st yuga)
FAQs
The verse links sacred geography to karmic and cosmic cycles, showing that holy places like Dāruvana arise through divine arrangement across yugas, preparing a setting where Shiva’s grace and instruction can manifest for the upliftment of beings.
By establishing Dāruvana’s origin, the text frames the locale where Saguna Shiva’s līlā and instruction are encountered; such sacred settings traditionally become centers for Linga-worship, where devotees approach Shiva through form while being led toward the highest truth.
The practical takeaway is tīrtha-smaraṇa (reverent remembrance of sacred places) combined with Shaiva devotion—japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined worship—especially when contemplating Shiva’s presence in consecrated landscapes.