Shloka 3

अध्याय १७ — देवपलायनं, विष्णोः प्रतियुद्धं, जलंधरक्रोधः

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

Devanagari script

पलायनपरान्दृष्ट्वा हृषीकेशस्सुरानथ । विष्णुर्वै गरुडारूढो योद्धुमभ्याययौ द्रुतम्

Transliteration

palāyanaparāndṛṣṭvā hṛṣīkeśassurānatha | viṣṇurvai garuḍārūḍho yoddhumabhyāyayau drutam

Translation

Seeing the gods bent on flight, Hṛṣīkeśa—Viṣṇu, lord and protector of the devas—mounted Garuḍa and swiftly advanced to engage in battle.

Word by Word

• palāyana-parān: intent on flight
• palāyana-parān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: palāyana (प्रातिपदिक) + para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2), Plural; adjective of surān; तत्पुरुष: ‘पलायने पराः’ = intent on fleeing

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त, अव्ययभाव)

• hṛṣīkeśaḥ: Hṛṣīkeśa (Viṣṇu)
• hṛṣīkeśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛṣīkeśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1), Singular

• surān: the gods
• surān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2), Plural

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

• viṣṇuḥ: Viṣṇu
• viṣṇuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1), Singular

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphasis

• garuḍa-ārūḍhaḥ: mounted on Garuḍa
• garuḍa-ārūḍhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: garuḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + ārūḍha (रूढ/आ-रुह् धातु-जन्य क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1), Singular; PPP (क्त) ‘ārūḍha’ used adjectivally; तत्पुरुष: ‘गरुडम् आरूढः’

• yoddhum: to fight
• yoddhum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yudh (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्)

• abhyāyayau: came forward / approached
• abhyāyayau: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-ā-yā (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, perfect), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• drutam: quickly
• drutam: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: druta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषण-रूपेण द्वितीया)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Tripurāntaka

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuḍa
• Devas

FAQs

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

It highlights dharmic leadership: when beings are overwhelmed by fear, a protector steps forward. From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, such courage still operates within the higher sovereignty of Pati (Shiva), who ultimately governs outcomes while other deities perform their ordained functions.

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

The verse depicts Saguna divine activity—protection and battle—reminding devotees that all empowered action is sustained by the Supreme Lord. Linga worship centers the mind on Shiva as the ultimate source behind all cosmic roles, including the protective function seen here.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steadiness (dhairya) through japa: repeat the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to master fear and regain inner control, especially in turbulent situations.