Shloka 41

यक्षेश्वरावतारः (Yakṣeśvara-Avatāra) and the Nīlakaṇṭha Paradigm in the Churning of the Ocean

Devanagari script

इदमाख्यानममलं सर्वगर्वापहारकम् । सतां सुशान्तिदन्नित्यं भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदं नृणाम्

Transliteration

idamākhyānamamalaṃ sarvagarvāpahārakam | satāṃ suśāntidannityaṃ bhuktimuktipradaṃ nṛṇām

Translation

هذه الحكاية المقدّسة الطاهرة تزيل كلَّ كِبْرٍ وغرور. وهي تمنح الصالحين سكينةً عميقةً على الدوام، وتُعطي البشرَ معًا نِعَمَ الدنيا والتحرّرَ النهائي (موكشا).

Word by Word

• idam: this
• idam: Karta/Adhikaraṇa (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun

• ākhyānam: narrative, account
• ākhyānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ākhyāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• amalam: pure, spotless
• amalam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: amala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying ākhyānam

• sarva-garva-apahārakam: remover of all pride
• sarva-garva-apahārakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + garva (प्रातिपदिक) + apahāraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: 'sarvasya garvasya apahārakam'

• satām: of the good (people)
• satām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग) / common usage, Genitive (षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• su-śānti-dat: giver of great peace
• su-śānti-dat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + śānti (प्रातिपदिक) + dātṛ/dad (√dā/√dad, धातु)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); present participial/agentive sense 'dātṛ' (giver): 'suśāntiṃ dadāti'

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय); adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• bhukti-mukti-pradam: bestowing enjoyment and liberation
• bhukti-mukti-pradam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhukti (प्रातिपदिक) + mukti (प्रातिपदिक) + prada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); dvandva in first members (bhukti+mukti) with tatpuruṣa to prada: 'bhuktiṃ ca muktiṃ ca pradadāti'

• nṛṇām: of men, of people
• nṛṇām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the फलश्रुति / promised fruits of hearing the account to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General phalaśruti: hearing/reciting the Śaiva kathā purifies the listener, destroys ahaṅkāra, and becomes an occasion for Śiva’s grace (anugraha) leading from dharma/artha/kāma to mokṣa.

Significance: Śravaṇa of Śiva-kathā is framed as a sādhana that yields śānti (inner pacification) and culminates in mukti—i.e., loosening pāśa (bondage) for the paśu through Pati’s grace.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It states the phala (fruit) of the narrative: sincere hearing/recitation purifies the heart, destroys ego (garva), and establishes inner tranquility—preparing the soul (paśu) to turn toward Shiva (Pati) and freedom from bondage (pāśa).

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

By praising the “stainless account,” the text encourages devotion through accessible Saguna means—listening to Shiva-kathā and honoring Shiva’s forms (including the Linga). Such bhakti yields both dharmic well-being (bhukti) and, when joined with surrender and right understanding, liberation (mukti).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is śravaṇa and pāṭha (listening/recitation) of Shiva Purana with humility; as a Shaiva support, one may pair it with japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and simple Linga worship, aiming at ego-reduction and steady peace.