Shloka 1

अध्याय १७ — देवपलायनं, विष्णोः प्रतियुद्धं, जलंधरक्रोधः

Devas’ Rout, Viṣṇu’s Counterattack, and Jalandhara’s Wrath

Devanagari script

सनत्कुमार उवाच । अथ दैत्या महावीर्याश्शूलैः परशुपट्टिशैः । निजघ्नुस्सर्वदेवांश्च भयव्याकुलमानसान्

Transliteration

sanatkumāra uvāca | atha daityā mahāvīryāśśūlaiḥ paraśupaṭṭiśaiḥ | nijaghnussarvadevāṃśca bhayavyākulamānasān

Translation

Sanatkumāra said: Then the mighty Daityas, wielding tridents, axes, and spears, struck down the hosts of the gods, whose minds were shaken and distressed with fear.

Word by Word

• sanat-kumāraḥ: Sanatkumāra
• sanat-kumāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sanat (प्रातिपदिक) + kumāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1 विभक्ति), Singular; proper name, कर्मधारय

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, perfect), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चय/अनन्तरार्थक अव्यय)

• daityāḥ: the demons
• daityāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1 विभक्ति), Plural (बहुवचन)

• mahā-vīryāḥ: of great valor
• mahā-vīryāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + vīrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1 विभक्ति), Plural; adjective of daityāḥ; कर्मधारय: ‘महद् वीर्यं येषाम्/महावीर्याः’ (usage adjectival)

• śūlaiḥ: with tridents
• śūlaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3 विभक्ति), Plural (बहुवचन)

• paraśu-paṭṭiśaiḥ: with axes and spears
• paraśu-paṭṭiśaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paraśu (प्रातिपदिक) + paṭṭiśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3 विभक्ति), Plural; द्वन्द्व: ‘परशुभिः च पट्टिशैः च’

• nijaghnūḥ: struck down
• nijaghnūḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-han (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, perfect), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural (बहुवचन)

• sarva-devān: all the gods
• sarva-devān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2), Plural; कर्मधारय: ‘सर्वे देवाः’

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

• bhaya-vyākula-mānasān: whose minds were agitated by fear
• bhaya-vyākula-mānasān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhaya (प्रातिपदिक) + vyākula (प्रातिपदिक) + mānasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2), Plural; adjective of sarva-devān; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी/तृतीया-भाव): ‘भयेन व्याकुलं मानसं येषाम्’

Speaker

Sanatkumara

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Characters & Entities

• Sanatkumara
• Daityas
• Devas

FAQs

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

It depicts how even the Devas can become overwhelmed by fear when relying on limited power, pointing to the Shaiva teaching that true protection and steadiness arise from taking refuge in Pati (Lord Shiva) and His grace.

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

The battlefield helplessness of the Devas sets the narrative ground for seeking Saguna Shiva as the immediate refuge and protector; Linga-worship symbolizes approaching Shiva as the stable, ever-present support beyond fluctuating circumstances.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

In times of fear and agitation, steady the mind with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and cultivate śaraṇāgati (surrender) to Shiva as the inner protector.