Shloka 42

व्यासशौनकादिसंवादः | Vyāsa–Śaunaka and the Sages: Opening Dialogue of the Kailāsa-saṃhitā

Devanagari script

अज्ञातवन्त एवैते वयं तस्माद्भवान्प्रभो । छेत्तुमर्हति तान्सर्वान्संशयानल्पचेतसाम्

Transliteration

ajñātavanta evaite vayaṃ tasmādbhavānprabho | chettumarhati tānsarvānsaṃśayānalpacetasām

Translation

我们确实是未得真知之人；因此，主啊，唯愿您为我们斩断这一切疑惑——这些疑惑出自识见狭小之心。

Word by Word

• अज्ञातवन्तः: ignorant / not knowing
• अज्ञातवन्तः: Karta (कर्ता) — predicate of ‘vayam’
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + ज्ञात (√ज्ञा धातु + क्त) + वत् (प्रातिपदिक-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; ‘possessing non-knowledge/ignorant’

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis/indeed)

• एते: these (we)
• एते: Karta (कर्ता) — apposition to ‘vayam’
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-इत्यव्यय (ablatival adverb); हेतौ/तस्मादर्थे ‘therefore/from that reason’

• भवान्: you (honored sir)
• भवान्: Karta (कर्ता) — subject of ‘arhati’
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; आदरार्थ-प्रयोग (honorific ‘you’)

• प्रभो: O Lord
• प्रभो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th case), एकवचन

• छेत्तुम्: to cut off / to dispel
• छेत्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन) — infinitival complement
• Type: Verb
• Root: छिद् (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृत्)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive), ‘to cut/dispell’

• अर्हति: is able / deserves / ought
• अर्हति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• तान्: those
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma (कर्म) — qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifies ‘tān’)

• संशयान्: doubts
• संशयान्: Karma (कर्म) — object of ‘chettum’
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन

• अल्पचेतसाम्: of the small-minded
• अल्पचेतसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अल्प + चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अल्पं चेतः यस्य/येषां), पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), बहुवचन; ‘of the small-minded’

Speaker

Sages/seekers addressing Lord Shiva (or the revered narrator-teacher in Kailāsasaṃhitā)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Positions Śiva (or Śiva’s authoritative teacher) as the remover of saṃśaya; pilgrimage here is primarily epistemic—moving from ajñāna to jñāna by grace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse models śaraṇāgati (humble surrender): the seeker admits ignorance and asks Pati (Shiva) to remove saṃśaya, because liberation arises through Shiva’s grace and right understanding.

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

Approaching Shiva as ‘Prabhu’ reflects Saguna upāsanā—devotional reliance on the Lord’s compassionate guidance—by which the mind becomes purified and fit to realize the deeper, transcendent truth Shiva signifies (as Linga).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with prayer for removal of doubt, supported by simple Shaiva disciplines like vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa as aids to steadiness and devotion.