Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

शंभुस्तन्मतमाज्ञाय तच्छिरांस्यच्युतेन ह । पुरा छिन्नानि वै केतुसंज्ञानि निदधे गले

Transliteration

śaṃbhustanmatamājñāya tacchirāṃsyacyutena ha | purā chinnāni vai ketusaṃjñāni nidadhe gale

Translation

Having understood that intention, Śambhu (Lord Śiva) caused Acyuta (Viṣṇu) to sever those heads; and those heads, thereafter known as “Ketu,” were long ago placed by Śiva upon His neck as an adornment.

Word by Word

• शंभुः: Śambhu (Śiva)
• शंभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (मतम्)

• मतम्: opinion, intention
• मतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• आज्ञाय: having understood
• आज्ञाय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; पूर्वक्रिया (having known/understood)

• तत्: those
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (शिरांसि)

• शिरांसि: heads
• शिरांसि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन

• अच्युतेन: by Acyuta (Viṣṇu)
• अच्युतेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अच्युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन; करण/सहकारक (instrument/agent in passive sense)

• ह: indeed
• ह: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: स्मरण/खलु-अर्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (formerly)

• छिन्नानि: cut off
• छिन्नानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: छिद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (शिरांसि)

• वै: indeed, surely
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• केतुसंज्ञानि: named ‘Ketu’
• केतुसंज्ञानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: केतु-संज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (केतोर् संज्ञा येषाम्/केतुसंज्ञकानि) विशेषणम् (शिरांसि)

• निदधे: placed, set
• निदधे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि+धा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• गले: on (his) neck/throat
• गले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Śiva’s governance of cosmic forces includes restraining and reconfiguring disruptive powers (Rāhu/Ketu) into regulated functions—teaching that even ‘malefic’ forces are under Īśvara-niyati.

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Mythic establishment of Ketu through severed heads; cosmic re-ordering of graha powers (Rāhu/Ketu) within divine law.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Ketu

FAQs

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

It portrays Śiva as the supreme Lord who subdues destructive forces and transforms even fearsome symbols (severed heads) into sacred emblems—teaching that ego and hostility, when cut down by divine will, become ornaments of liberation rather than causes of bondage.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Śiva’s leela—His visible, iconic form that devotees contemplate. Such imagery supports Linga-worship by giving the mind a concrete symbol of Śiva’s power to dissolve impurities (mala) and protect the devotee from karmic entanglement.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as the remover of pride and negativity while chanting the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya); as a simple ritual, apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) with remembrance that all ego is to be ‘severed’ and offered to Śiva.