Shloka 97

Devadāru (Dāruvana) Forest: The Delusion of Ritual Pride, the Liṅga Crisis, and the Teaching of Jñāna–Pāśupata Yoga

Devanagari script

वृक्षमूलनिकेताश्च शिलाशय्यास्तथा परे / कालं नयन्ति तपसा पूजयन्तो महेश्वरम्

Transliteration

vṛkṣamūlaniketāśca śilāśayyāstathā pare / kālaṃ nayanti tapasā pūjayanto maheśvaram

Translation

บางพวกพำนัก ณ โคนไม้ บางพวกเอนกายบนศิลาเปลือยเป็นที่นอน; เขาทั้งหลายใช้กาลเวลาในตบะ พร้อมทั้งบูชามเหศวร (พระศิวะ) ด้วยวินัยแห่งพรต

Word by Word

• वृक्षमूलनिकेताः: those dwelling at the roots of trees
• वृक्षमूलनिकेताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृक्ष-मूल-निकेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (वृक्षस्य मूले निकेतः येषाम्/ये)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/ conjunction

• शिलाशय्याः: those whose bed is stone (stone-sleepers)
• शिलाशय्याः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिला-शय्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (शिलायां शय्या येषाम्/ये)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण/adverb

• परे: others
• परे: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• कालम्: time
• कालम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• नयन्ति: they spend/lead
• नयन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• पूजयन्तः: worshipping
• पूजयन्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Agent; participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त/शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• महेश्वरम्: Maheshvara (the Great Lord)
• महेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् ईश्वरः)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing King Indradyumna in Śiva-dharma and Pāśupata-oriented tapas (Śaiva–Vaiṣṇava synthesis).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Maheśvara (Śiva)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

How does this verse explain the nature of the Supreme Self (Atman)?

By highlighting tapas and worship of Maheśvara, the verse implies that inner purification and disciplined living make the mind fit to recognize the indwelling Lord—Atman realized through sustained sādhana rather than mere ritual comfort.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It points to austere yogic living—minimal shelter (tree-root dwelling), minimal bodily comfort (sleeping on stone), and sustained tapas as a support for steady devotion and contemplation, aligning with Pāśupata-flavored renunciation and one-pointed worship.

How does this verse depict the relationship between Shiva and Vishnu?

With Kūrma (Viṣṇu) presenting Śiva (Maheśvara) as the worthy object of worship, the Purāṇa models a non-sectarian synthesis: devotion to Śiva is taught within a Vaiṣṇava narrative voice, emphasizing unity of the divine rather than rivalry.