Shloka 37

Kirātāvatāra, Durvāsā-upākhyāna, and the Logic of Divine Rescue

Kirātākhyam-avatāra; Pāṇḍava-prasaṅga

Devanagari script

इति श्रीशिवमहापुराणे तृतीयायां शतरुद्रसंहितायां किरातावतारवर्णनप्रसंगेऽर्जुनाय व्यासोपदेशवर्णनं नाम सप्तत्रिंशोऽध्यायः

Transliteration

iti śrīśivamahāpurāṇe tṛtīyāyāṃ śatarudrasaṃhitāyāṃ kirātāvatāravarṇanaprasaṃge'rjunāya vyāsopadeśavarṇanaṃ nāma saptatriṃśo'dhyāyaḥ

Translation

如是，在尊贵的《湿婆摩诃往世书》中，于第三部《百鲁陀罗集》（Śatarudra-saṃhitā）里，此为第三十七章，题为《毗耶娑对阿周那之教诲记》，置于湿婆化身为基罗多（猎人）之叙事脉络中。

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समाप्त्यर्थक/उद्धरणचिह्न (closing particle)

• श्री-शिव-महा-पुराणे: in the Śrī Śiva Mahāpurāṇa
• श्री-शिव-महा-पुराणे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; locus)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री + शिव + महा + पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (अधिकरण) एकवचन; बहुपद-कर्मधारय (honorific + name + epithet + purāṇa)

• तृतीयायाम्: in the third
• तृतीयायाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृतीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying saṃhitāyām: in the third)

• शतरुद्रसंहितायाम्: in the Śatarudra-saṃhitā
• शतरुद्रसंहितायाम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत + रुद्र + संहिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (अधिकरण) एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (शतरुद्रस्य संहिता)

• किरातावतारवर्णनप्रसङ्गे: in the context of describing the Kirāta incarnation
• किरातावतारवर्णनप्रसङ्गे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किरात + अवतार + वर्णन + प्रसङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (अधिकरण) एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (प्रसङ्गः—किरातावतारवर्णनस्य)

• अर्जुनाय: to Arjuna
• अर्जुनाय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान; recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान) एकवचन (Dative singular)

• व्यासोपदेशवर्णनम्: (the section) ‘Description of Vyāsa’s instruction’
• व्यासोपदेशवर्णनम्: Viśeṣya/Title (नाम; heading)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास + उपदेश + वर्णन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (प्रातिपदिक-नाम) एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (व्यासस्य उपदेशस्य वर्णनम्)

• नाम: named
• नाम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; naming)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नामनिर्देशक (indeclinable: called/named)

• सप्तत्रिंशः: thirty-seventh
• सप्तत्रिंशः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण; of adhyāyaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्तत्रिंशत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; द्विगु (numeral compound: thirty-seven)

• अध्यायः: chapter
• अध्यायः: Viṣaya (विषय; chapter heading)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (कर्ता/विषय) एकवचन (Nominative singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Colophon marking the chapter closure within the Kirātāvatāra narrative frame; no specific liṅga-sthala is invoked here.

Significance: Textual śravaṇa/paṭhana merit is implied by Purāṇic convention at chapter-end, though not explicitly stated in this colophon.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Arjuna
• Vyasa

FAQs

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

This verse serves as the chapter colophon, highlighting that the Kirāta-avatāra setting is used to convey Śiva-centered instruction (upadeśa) through Vyāsa to Arjuna—pointing to right knowledge and devotion as supports for liberation under Pati (Śiva).

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

By naming the Kirāta incarnation context, it emphasizes Saguna Śiva—Śiva who assumes a tangible form to guide devotees—supporting Purāṇic worship where the Linga and divine forms become accessible means for grace and spiritual maturation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

While no specific rite is stated in this colophon, the implied takeaway is to follow Śiva-upadeśa with steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and devotional contemplation on Śiva’s compassionate guidance through forms and teachers.