Shloka 24

धर्मद्वारबहुत्वविमर्शः — Reflection on the Many ‘Doors’ of Dharma (Śānti-parva 342)

Devanagari script

यद्य॒हं नार्चयेयं वै ईशानं वरदं शिवम्‌

Transliteration

yady ahaṃ nārcayeyam vai īśānaṃ varadaṃ śivam

Translation

阿周那说道：“若我不礼敬伊沙那——吉祥而赐福的湿婆主，我便是亏欠了对那护佑与恩泽之神圣源头应有的敬奉。”

Word by Word

• यदि: if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: common, nominative, singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• अर्चयेयम्: should worship
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च्
• Form: optative (vidhi-lin), 1st, singular, parasmaipada

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• ईशानम्: Īśāna (the Lord, Shiva)
• ईशानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईशान
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• वरदम्: boon-giving
• वरदम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वरद
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

Speaker

अर्जुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• Īśāna (Śiva)
• Śiva

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the dharmic importance of honoring the divine—especially Śiva as Īśāna and boon-giver—implying that devotion and reverence are integral to receiving protection, guidance, and grace.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna speaks in a reflective, conditional manner, emphasizing that neglecting worship of Śiva (Īśāna, the giver of boons) would be improper—framing devotion as a necessary response to divine sovereignty and beneficence.