Shloka 17

राहोः शिरच्छेदन-कारणकथनम् / The Account of Rāhu’s Beheading

Cause and Background

Devanagari script

सनत्कुम्रार उवाच । एवं कविस्तस्य शिरश्छेदं राहोश्शशंस च । अमृतार्थे समुद्रस्य मंथनं देवकारितम्

Transliteration

sanatkumrāra uvāca | evaṃ kavistasya śiraśchedaṃ rāhośśaśaṃsa ca | amṛtārthe samudrasya maṃthanaṃ devakāritam

Translation

Sanatkumāra said: “Thus did Kavi recount the severing of Rāhu’s head. And for the sake of obtaining amṛta, the Devas caused the churning of the Ocean to be undertaken.”

Word by Word

• sanatkumāraḥ: Sanatkumāra
• sanatkumāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sanatkumāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु, वच्)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकारवाचक अव्यय)

• kaviḥ: the sage/poet
• kaviḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kavi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; pronoun

• śiraḥ-chedam: beheading / head-cutting
• śiraḥ-chedam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक) + cheda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; ‘cutting off of the head’

• rāhoḥ: of Rāhu
• rāhoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• śaśaṃsa: praised / recounted
• śaśaṃsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śaṃs (धातु, शंस्)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• amṛta-arthe: for (the sake of) nectar
• amṛta-arthe: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amṛta (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; ‘for the sake of nectar’ (purpose-locative)

• samudrasya: of the ocean
• samudrasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• manthanam: churning
• manthanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manthana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• deva-kāritam: caused by the gods
• deva-kāritam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + kārita (कृदन्त, √kṛ/कृ)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त) of causative ‘kārayati’, Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘caused/done by the gods’; agrees with ‘manthanam’

Speaker

Sanatkumāra

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: samudra-manthana (churning of the Ocean for amṛta)

Characters & Entities

• Sanatkumara
• Rahu
• Devas

FAQs

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

The verse frames amṛta (nectar) as a sought-after worldly boon and highlights how cosmic events unfold through divine ordinance; in a Shaiva Siddhānta lens, true liberation is not mere longevity but the grace-born realization of Pati (Śiva), beyond all temporary gains.

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

Though Śiva is not named here, the Samudra Manthana narrative traditionally depends on Śiva’s protective role (bearing the cosmic burden and later drinking the halāhala); it points to Saguna Śiva as the accessible Lord who safeguards the cosmos so dharma and worship may continue.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to prioritize Śiva-upāsanā for inner immortality: japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with steadiness and detachment, remembering that external boons like amṛta are secondary to mokṣa through Śiva’s grace.