Shloka 30

अध्याय १७ — देवपलायनं, विष्णोः प्रतियुद्धं, जलंधरक्रोधः

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

Devanagari script

अथ विष्णुस्तत्त्रिशूलं चिच्छेद तरसा द्रुतम् । नंदकाख्येन खड्गेन स्मृत्वा शिवपदाम्बुजम्

Transliteration

atha viṣṇustattriśūlaṃ ciccheda tarasā drutam | naṃdakākhyena khaḍgena smṛtvā śivapadāmbujam

Translation

Then Viṣṇu, swiftly and with great force, severed that trident using the sword famed as Nandaka—while inwardly remembering the lotus-feet of Lord Śiva.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रमसूचक (then)

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying त्रिशूलम्: that)

• त्रिशूलम्: trident
• त्रिशूलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिशूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• चिच्छेद: cut/broke
• चिच्छेद: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: छिद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तरसा: with force
• तरसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental); एकवचन; साधन/रीतिवाचक (with force)

• द्रुतम्: quickly
• द्रुतम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्रुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative: quickly)

• नंदक-आख्येन: called Nandaka
• नंदक-आख्येन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नंदक (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया; एकवचन; समासः—नंदक इति आख्या यस्य (नंदकाख्य) इति; खड्गस्य विशेषणम्

• खड्गेन: with the sword
• खड्गेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खड्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया; एकवचन

• स्मृत्वा: having remembered
• स्मृत्वा: Hetu/Prayojana (हेतु/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + क्त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वक्रिया (having remembered)

• शिव-पद-अम्बुजम्: Śiva’s lotus-feet
• शिव-पद-अम्बुजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य पदम्) + तत्पुरुष (पदाम्बुजम्=पदं अम्बुजमिव)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: No direct Jyotirliṅga-sthala episode here; the verse functions as a battle-narrative emphasizing Viṣṇu’s efficacy only when oriented to Śiva’s pāda (lotus-feet), a common Purāṇic way of subordinating martial success to Śiva’s anugraha.

Significance: Implicit: smaraṇa of Śiva’s pāda is portrayed as protective and empowering even amid conflict (bhakti as refuge).

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shiva
• Nandaka
• Trishula

FAQs

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

It teaches that even great divine action becomes spiritually aligned when grounded in bhakti—Viṣṇu’s power is shown alongside humble remembrance of Śiva’s lotus-feet, affirming Śiva as the supreme refuge (Pati) in Shaiva Siddhanta.

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

Remembering “Śiva’s lotus-feet” reflects Saguna devotion—personal, form-based reverence—akin to Linga worship where the devotee anchors the mind in Śiva’s presence while engaging in worldly duties.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice inward smaraṇa (remembrance) of Śiva—mentally repeating the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while performing actions, cultivating steadiness and surrender.