Shloka 3

विदलोत्पलदैत्ययोरुत्पत्तिः देवपराजयः ब्रह्मोपदेशः नारदप्रेषणम्

Vidalotpala Daityas, Defeat of the Devas, Brahmā’s Counsel, and Nārada’s Mission

Devanagari script

तृणीकृतत्रिजगती पुरुषाभ्यां स्वदोर्ब लात् । ताभ्यां सर्वे सुरा ब्रह्मन् दैत्याभ्यां निर्जिता रणे

Transliteration

tṛṇīkṛtatrijagatī puruṣābhyāṃ svadorba lāt | tābhyāṃ sarve surā brahman daityābhyāṃ nirjitā raṇe

Translation

By the sheer strength of their own arms, those two Daityas made the three worlds as insignificant as a blade of grass. O Brahman, by those two the gods were all defeated in battle.

Word by Word

• तृणीकृत-त्रिजगती: the two (worlds) made as grass—i.e., treated as worthless
• तृणीकृत-त्रिजगती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृणीकृत (कृदन्त; √कृ धातु) + त्रिजगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; कृदन्त-भूतकर्मणि (क्त) ‘तृणीकृत’ = made like grass; समासः कर्मधारयः (तृणीकृता च सा त्रिजगती)

• पुरुषाभ्याम्: by the two persons
• पुरुषाभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), द्विवचन

• स्व-दोर्बलात्: from (the power of) their own arms
• स्व-दोर्बलात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + दोर्बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्वस्य दोर्बलम्)

• ताभ्याम्: by those two
• ताभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), द्विवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• सुराः: the gods
• सुराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahman (sage)
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• दैत्याभ्याम्: by the two demons
• दैत्याभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), द्विवचन

• निर्जिताः: were defeated
• निर्जिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि√जि (धातु) → निर्जित (कृदन्त; क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगे ‘were defeated’

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages; addressing a revered sage as 'Brahman')

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Battle-context narration: daityas overpower devas, setting up the need for divine intervention; not a jyotirliṅga origin episode.

Significance: Didactic: illustrates the fragility of deva-power without Śiva’s anugraha; prompts śaraṇāgati (refuge) as the true ‘tīrtha’ of the heart.

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Daityas
• Three Worlds (Trailokya)

FAQs

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

It highlights that worldly dominance—even over the three worlds—can arise from brute force, yet such power is transient; Shaiva teaching points beyond this to dependence on Pati (Śiva) whose grace restores dharma when devas are overrun.

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

The devas’ defeat sets the narrative need for refuge in Śiva as Saguna protector; in the Purana, turning to Śiva—often through Liṅga-upāsanā—becomes the means by which cosmic order is re-established.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is śaraṇāgati (seeking refuge) through japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” accompanied by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders that inner devotion, not mere strength, grants protection and steadiness.