Shloka 9

देवपराजयः — शङ्करशरणागमनं स्कन्दकालीयुद्धं च | Devas’ Defeat, Refuge in Śaṅkara, and the Battle of Skanda and Kālī

Devanagari script

शतलक्षं गजेन्द्राणां शतलक्षं नृणां तथा । समादायैकहस्तेन मुखे चिक्षेप लीलया

Transliteration

śatalakṣaṃ gajendrāṇāṃ śatalakṣaṃ nṛṇāṃ tathā | samādāyaikahastena mukhe cikṣepa līlayā

Translation

A hundred thousand lordly elephants, and likewise a hundred thousand men—gathering them up with a single hand, he cast them into his mouth playfully, as a mere sport.

Word by Word

• शतलक्षम्: a hundred lakhs (ten million)
• शतलक्षम्: Karma (कर्म/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक) + लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (संख्यापूर्वक)

• गजेन्द्राणाम्: of elephant-lords; of great elephants
• गजेन्द्राणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (गजानाम् इन्द्राः)

• शतलक्षम्: a hundred lakhs
• शतलक्षम्: Karma (कर्म/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक) + लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास

• नृणाम्: of men
• नृणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• तथा: likewise; also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-क्रियाविशेषण/समुच्चयार्थ

• समादाय: having taken up; having gathered
• समादाय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having taken/collected’

• एकहस्तेन: with one hand
• एकहस्तेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (एकः हस्तः)

• मुखे: into the mouth
• मुखे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• चिक्षेप: he hurled; threw
• चिक्षेप: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्/परस्मैपद-रूप (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; क्षिप्-धातोः ‘he threw’

• लीलया: playfully; as a sport
• लीलया: Hetu/Prakara (हेतु/प्रकार)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणार्थे (adverbial instrumental)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

FAQs

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

It reveals the vast disparity between finite strength and the Lord’s sovereign power: even immense worldly forces become effortless in the presence of Pati (the Supreme). In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, it points to the soul’s need to surrender ego and dependence on mere material might, seeking grace for liberation.

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

The verse depicts saguna manifestation—Shiva’s power expressed in a tangible, narrative form—so devotees can contemplate His supremacy and take refuge. Such remembrance matures into steadiness in Linga-worship, where the same Lord is adored as the all-containing Reality beyond measure.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchakshara—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with humility, offering one’s pride and fear into Shiva’s protection. On Mahashivratri, this can be paired with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and focused meditation on Shiva as the all-supporting Lord.