Shloka 27

Mahiṣāsura’s Conquest of Svarga and the Devas’ Appeal to Śiva and Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

अस्त्राण्यनेकानि तथाभेद्यं चैव तनुच्छदम् । सुरम्यसरसां मालां पङ्कजं चाम्बुधिर्ददौ

Transliteration

astrāṇyanekāni tathābhedyaṃ caiva tanucchadam | suramyasarasāṃ mālāṃ paṅkajaṃ cāmbudhirdadau

Translation

Der Ozean (der Herr der Wasser) schenkte viele Arten göttlicher Waffen, eine undurchdringliche Körperrüstung, einen prächtigen Kranz aus erlesenen Lotusblüten und auch eine Lotusblume.

Word by Word

• अस्त्राणि: weapons
• अस्त्राणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• अनेकानि: many
• अनेकानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying अस्त्राणि)

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: likewise/also)

• अभेद्यम्: unbreakable
• अभेद्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभेद्य (प्रातिपदिक; यत्-प्रत्ययान्त from भिद् with अ-)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; यत्-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण (fit to be broken → unbreakable)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• तनु-छदम्: a body-covering/garment
• तनु-छदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तनु (प्रातिपदिक) + छद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (covering of the body)

• सु-रम्य-सरसाम्: (from) very lovely lakes
• सु-रम्य-सरसाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + रम्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying मालाम्); बहुवचन-प्रयोगः ‘of very beautiful lakes’ (सरसाम् = सरस्, acc.pl. as poetic variant)

• मालाम्: garland
• मालाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• पङ्कजम्: lotus
• पङ्कजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पङ्कज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अम्बुधिः: the ocean
• अम्बुधिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बुधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Ocean (Ambudhi)

FAQs

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

The verse portrays divine grace arriving through the cosmic powers (here, the Ocean) as protective and beautifying gifts—armour for steadfastness in dharma and lotus-garlands for pure devotion—supporting the seeker in approaching Pati (Śiva) beyond fear and limitation.

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

Lotus and garlands are classic Saguna offerings used in Śiva-pūjā and Liṅga-arcana, expressing purity and surrender; the “impenetrable armour” symbolizes the devotee’s inner protection gained through Śiva’s anugraha (grace) while continuing outer ritual worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Offer pure flowers (especially lotus where available) with mantra-japa—such as the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and cultivate inner “armour” through daily discipline: bhasma/tripuṇḍra, rudrākṣa (if initiated), and steady meditation on Śiva as the protector.