Shloka 70

देवस्तुतिः—नन्दिकेश्वरविज्ञप्तिः—शम्भोः समाधेः उत्थानम्

Devas’ Hymn, Nandikeśvara’s Petition, and Śiva’s Rising from Samādhi

Devanagari script

विषं पीतं सुरार्थं हि भक्तवत्सलभावधृक् । देवकष्टं हृतं यत्नात्सर्वदैव मया सुराः

Transliteration

viṣaṃ pītaṃ surārthaṃ hi bhaktavatsalabhāvadhṛk | devakaṣṭaṃ hṛtaṃ yatnātsarvadaiva mayā surāḥ

Translation

Zum Wohl der Devas habe Ich wahrlich das Gift getrunken, denn stets trage Ich das Wesen der Liebe zu Meinen Bhaktas. O Götter, mit bewusstem Bemühen habe Ich immerdar die Not der Devas hinweggenommen.

Word by Word

• viṣam: poison
• viṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• pītam: drunk
• pītam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pā (धाातु) + kta (क्त) → pīta (कृदन्त-भूतकर्मणि)
• Form: कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘(was) drunk’

• sura-artham: for the sake of the gods
• sura-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (surāṇām arthaḥ), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; purpose-object

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; emphasis/indeed

• bhakta-vatsala-bhāva-dhṛk: one who bears the nature of being affectionate to devotees
• bhakta-vatsala-bhāva-dhṛk: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhakta (प्रातिपदिक) + vatsala (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāva (प्रातिपदिक) + dhṛk (धृ धातु-प्रत्ययान्त, धारक)
• Form: समास: (bhakteṣu vatsalaḥ) इति कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः + bhāva + dhṛk; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (कर्ता-विशेषण)

• deva-kaṣṭam: the gods’ distress
• deva-kaṣṭam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + kaṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (devānāṃ kaṣṭam), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• hṛtam: removed
• hṛtam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hṛ (धातु) + kta (क्त) → hṛta (कृदन्त-भूतकर्मणि)
• Form: कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘removed/taken away’

• yatnāt: with effort
• yatnāt: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yatna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन; adverbial ‘by/with effort’

• sarvadā: always
• sarvadā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• eva: certainly/only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; restriction/emphasis

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• surāḥ: O gods / the gods
• surāḥ: Sambodhana/Addressed (सम्बोधन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन; संबोधनार्थे/उक्तिविषयः

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Nīlakaṇṭha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Allusion to samudra-manthana: Śiva drinks hālāhala to save the devas, becoming Nīlakaṇṭha. Though not a Jyotirliṅga origin here, it functions as a pan-Śaiva ‘sthala’ of cosmic rescue remembered in many temples named Nīlakaṇṭheśvara.

Significance: Promises protection and alleviation of ‘deva-kaṣṭa’ (cosmic/collective distress); devotees approach Śiva as the one who absorbs poison—symbolically taking on devotees’ pāpa/kleśa.

Mantra Metadata

Type: rudram

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Samudra-manthana; emergence of hālāhala poison (mythic cosmic crisis).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas

FAQs

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

It presents Shiva as the compassionate Pati who voluntarily bears poison and suffering to protect the worlds—teaching that divine grace and self-offering remove fear and distress for those who take refuge in him.

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

The verse points to Saguna Shiva as Neelakantha—the protector who intervenes in cosmic crises; Linga-worship becomes a direct way to approach this saving grace and steadfast guardianship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Neelakantha Shiva while japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and offer water/bilva to the Linga with the intent of seeking protection and inner purification from ‘poisons’ like anger, pride, and attachment.