Shloka 21

Vṛṣeśākhya-Śivāvatāra and the Initiation of the Kṣīrasāgara-Manthana

Churning of the Milk Ocean

Devanagari script

शरत्पूर्णेन्दुवदनास्तडित्सूर्य्यानलप्रभाः । हारकेयूरकटकैर्दिव्यरत्नैरलङ्कृताः

Transliteration

śaratpūrṇenduvadanāstaḍitsūryyānalaprabhāḥ | hārakeyūrakaṭakairdivyaratnairalaṅkṛtāḥ

Translation

Ihre Gesichter glichen dem Vollmond des Herbstes, und ihr Glanz leuchtete wie Blitz, Sonne und loderndes Feuer. Mit himmlischen Juwelen geschmückt—Halsketten, Armreife und Armbänder—strahlten sie in göttlicher Pracht.

Word by Word

• शरत्पूर्णेन्दुवदनाः: (those) whose faces are like the full moon in autumn
• शरत्पूर्णेन्दुवदनाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शरत्-पूर्ण-इन्दु-वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन (pl.); समासः—बहुव्रीहिः (शरत्पूर्णेन्दुवत् वदनं येषाम्)

• तडित्सूर्यानलप्रभाः: having radiance like lightning, the sun, and fire
• तडित्सूर्यानलप्रभाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तडित्-सूर्य-अनल-प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन (pl.); समासः—बहुव्रीहिः (तडित्-सूर्य-अनलवत् प्रभा येषाम्)

• हारकेयूरकटकैः: with necklaces, armlets, and bracelets
• हारकेयूरकटकैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हार-केयूर-कटक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन (pl.); समासः—इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (हाराः च केयूराः च कटकाः च)

• दिव्यरत्नैः: with divine gems
• दिव्यरत्नैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्य-रत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन (pl.); समासः—कर्मधारयः (दिव्यानि रत्नानि)

• अलङ्कृताः: adorned
• अलङ्कृताः: Kriyā (क्रिया/स्थितिवाचक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अलङ्कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘decorated/adorned’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes that proximity to Shiva’s sacred presence manifests as purity, luminosity, and auspicious beauty—outer splendor symbolizing inner sattva and the grace that uplifts the soul toward liberation.

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

It supports Saguna-upāsanā: devotees contemplate Shiva’s manifest glory and retinue as a doorway to the formless Truth. In Linga worship, this same radiance is invoked as Shiva’s all-pervading light, made approachable through a sacred form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Dhyāna (meditation) on Shiva’s luminous auspicious form while repeating the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” optionally accompanied by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as supports for steadiness and devotion.