Shloka 13

राहोर्विमोचनानन्तरं जलन्धरस्य सैन्योद्योगः — Rahu’s Aftermath and Jalandhara’s Mobilization

Devanagari script

व्यराजत नभः पूर्णं प्रावृषीव यथा घनैः । जाता अशकुना भूरि महानिद्रावि सूचकाः

Transliteration

vyarājata nabhaḥ pūrṇaṃ prāvṛṣīva yathā ghanaiḥ | jātā aśakunā bhūri mahānidrāvi sūcakāḥ

Translation

The sky appeared completely filled, like the rainy season when it is packed with clouds. Many ominous birds appeared—portents foretelling a great stupor and darkness (of delusion) before the impending conflict.

Word by Word

• vyarājata: shone/appeared splendid
• vyarājata: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + rāj (राज् धातु)
• Form: Laṅ (लङ्, imperfect), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd person, Singular

• nabhaḥ: sky
• nabhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nabhas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• pūrṇam: full/filled
• pūrṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agreeing with nabhaḥ

• prāvṛṣi: rainy season/monsoon
• prāvṛṣi: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāvṛṣ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; used in simile

• iva: like/as
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle of comparison (उपमावाचक)

• yathā: just as
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, comparative/correlative adverb (यथाशब्द)

• ghanaiḥ: with clouds
• ghanaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• jātāḥ: arisen/occurred
• jātāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jan (जन् धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; agreeing with sūcakāḥ

• aśakunāḥ: bad omens/ill portents
• aśakunāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-śakuna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• bhūri: many/abundantly
• bhūri: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhūri (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya used as quantifier/adverb (परिमाणवाचक)

• mahā-nidrā-api: even great sleep/drowsiness
• mahā-nidrā-api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + nidrā (प्रातिपदिक) + api (अव्यय)
• Form: Sandhi group: nidrā + api → nidrāpi; here written 'avi' in source; api = particle (सम्भावन/अपि)

• sūcakāḥ: indicators/portents
• sūcakāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūcaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Ominous portents (aśakuna) before battle; sky clouded like prāvṛṣ.

FAQs

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

The cloud-filled sky and ominous birds symbolize the rise of tamas—confusion, fear, and deluding darkness—often seen before major karmic turning points. In Shaiva understanding, such portents remind the seeker to take refuge in Pati (Shiva) rather than be swept away by the mind’s “great sleep” of ignorance.

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

When the world-signs become unsettling, the Purana’s implied remedy is steadiness in Saguna Shiva worship—holding to Shiva as the protective Lord through mantra and devotion. The Linga stands for Shiva’s unwavering presence amid changing ‘weather’ of the cosmos and mind.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to intensify japa of the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and maintain Tripuṇḍra/bhasma with a calm, vigilant mind—countering the ‘mahā-nidrā’ (spiritual lethargy) indicated by the omens.