Shloka 10

यक्षेश्वरावतारः (Yakṣeśvara-Avatāra) and the Nīlakaṇṭha Paradigm in the Churning of the Ocean

Devanagari script

तत्पपुः केवलन्देवा नासुराः कृपया हरेः । ततो बभूव सुमहद्रत्नं तेषां मिथोऽकदम्

Transliteration

tatpapuḥ kevalandevā nāsurāḥ kṛpayā hareḥ | tato babhūva sumahadratnaṃ teṣāṃ mitho'kadam

Translation

By the compassion of Lord Hari, only the Devas drank it—not the Asuras. Thereupon a very great jewel came into being, and it became the cause of mutual conflict among them.

Word by Word

• तत्: that (nectar)
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम — object of 'drank'

• पपुः: drank
• पपुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pā (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• केवलम्: only
• केवलम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kevala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (adverbial accusative), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; 'only/solely'

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

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध (negation particle)

• असुराः: the demons
• असुराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• कृपया: by (his) compassion
• कृपया: Hetu/Instrument (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛpā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• हरेः: of Hari (Vishnu)
• हरेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त

• बभूव: arose/came to be
• बभूव: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• सुमहत्: very great
• सुमहत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su + mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: 'सु' (very) + 'महत्' (great)

• रत्नम्: a gem
• रत्नम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• मिथः: mutually/among themselves
• मिथः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: mithas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, परस्परार्थक (reciprocal adverb)

• अकदम्: (unclear; possibly 'conflict/obstacle')
• अकदम्: Karma/Predicate (कर्म/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: akada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; पाठभेद/दुर्लभ-शब्द (rare/uncertain reading)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Hari)
• Devas
• Asuras

FAQs

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

It shows that divine grace determines who receives the fruit of a sacred attainment, and it warns that even after a boon is gained, attachment to newly arisen objects (like a jewel) can quickly generate conflict—hence the Shaiva call to vairagya and steadiness of mind.

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

The narrative highlights that worldly gains can distract beings into rivalry; Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is prescribed as a stabilizing Saguna focus that purifies desire and redirects attention from possession to devotion and inner surrender to Pati (Shiva).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate detachment while performing Shiva-upasana—daily Panchakshara japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and rudrākṣa as reminders to restrain greed and keep the mind from falling into contention.