Shloka 40

अध्याय १७ — देवपलायनं, विष्णोः प्रतियुद्धं, जलंधरक्रोधः

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

Devanagari script

सनत्कुमार उवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तस्य विष्णोर्मायाविनो हरेः । प्रत्युवाच महाबुद्धिर्दैत्यराजो जलंधरः

Transliteration

sanatkumāra uvāca | ityākarṇya vacastasya viṣṇormāyāvino hareḥ | pratyuvāca mahābuddhirdaityarājo jalaṃdharaḥ

Translation

Sanatkumāra said: Having thus heard the words of Viṣṇu—Hari, the wielder of māyā—Jalandhara, the demon-king of great intellect, replied in return.

Word by Word

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

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

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha-dyotaka (वाक्यार्थद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), quotative particle (उद्धरण/इति-प्रयोग)

• ākarṇya: having heard
• ākarṇya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√kṛ/√karṇ (धातु: √karṇ 'to hear', with ā-; कृदन्त)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), indeclinable: 'having heard'

• vacaḥ: speech/words
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक, सर्वनाम)
• Form: Pronoun; Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• viṣṇoḥ: of Viṣṇu
• viṣṇoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• māyāvinaḥ: of the wielder of māyā/illusion
• māyāvinaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: māyāvin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying 'viṣṇoḥ/hareḥ'

• hareḥ: of Hari
• hareḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• pratyuvāca: replied
• pratyuvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-√vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, perfect), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• mahā-buddhiḥ: great-minded; of great intellect
• mahā-buddhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) compound used adjectivally; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); bahuvrīhi-like sense 'one whose intellect is great' but form is karmadhāraya in usage

• daitya-rājaḥ: king of the demons
• daitya-rājaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daitya (प्रातिपदिक) + rāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• jalaṃdharaḥ: Jalandhara
• jalaṃdharaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jalaṃdhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Sanatkumara

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Hari
• Jalandhara

FAQs

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

The verse frames a key Shaiva theme: even a highly intelligent being can remain bound when confronting divine māyā; true clarity arises through devotion to Pati (Śiva) beyond ego and power.

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

By highlighting māyā and the ensuing conflict, the text implicitly points toward seeking refuge in Saguna Śiva (often worshipped as the Liṅga) as the stable, liberating principle beyond the shifting play of power and illusion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with humility, supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders to see through māyā and restrain pride.