Shloka 21

दक्षयज्ञध्वंसः—वीरभद्रप्रेषणं, देवविष्ण्वोः पराजयः, पुनरनुग्रहः

Devanagari script

त्रयस्त्रिंशत्सुरानेवं विनिहत्याप्रयत्नतः त्रयश् च त्रिशतं तेषां त्रिसाहस्रं च लीलया

Transliteration

trayastriṃśatsurānevaṃ vinihatyāprayatnataḥ trayaś ca triśataṃ teṣāṃ trisāhasraṃ ca līlayā

Translation

So tötete er die dreiunddreißig Götter ohne jede Anstrengung; und spielerisch, in Seiner Līlā, streckte er ebenso dreihundertdrei und sogar dreitausend nieder.

Word by Word

• trayastriṁśat-surān: the thirty-three Devas

• evam: thus/in this manner

• vinihatya: having slain/defeated

• aprayatnataḥ: without effort, effortlessly

• trayaḥ ca triśatam: three hundred and three

• teṣām: of them/among them

• trisāhasram: three thousand

• ca: and

• līlayā: as a sport, playfully

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Devas (Trayastriṁśat)

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It underscores that all divine powers (including the Trayastriṁśat Devas) are subordinate to the Supreme Pati; Linga worship centers on that highest reality rather than on limited cosmic offices.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

By emphasizing “aprayatnataḥ” (effortlessness) and “līlayā” (divine sport), it points to Shiva-tattva as sovereign, unconstrained consciousness whose acts are spontaneous and not compelled by karma or limitation—Pati beyond pasha.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

No specific puja-vidhi is stated; the takeaway aligns with Pashupata orientation: cultivate surrender (śaraṇāgati) to Pati, recognizing that liberation of the paśu depends on Shiva’s grace rather than mere exertion.