Shloka 19

Devanagari script

सर्वान्दृष्ट्वाच्युतमुखान्देवान्यक्षपतिस्स वै । महागर्वाढ्यमनसा महेशाः प्राह गर्वहा

Transliteration

sarvāndṛṣṭvācyutamukhāndevānyakṣapatissa vai | mahāgarvāḍhyamanasā maheśāḥ prāha garvahā

Translation

Seeing all the gods headed by Acyuta (Viṣṇu), the lord of the Yakṣas (Kubera)—his mind swollen with great pride—spoke to Maheśa, the Destroyer of pride.

Word by Word

• sarvān: all
• sarvān: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc.2), Bahuvacana; विशेषण qualifying ‘devān’

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (दृश् धातु)
• Form: Ktvānta (absolutive/gerund)

• acyuta-mukhān: having Acyuta (Viṣṇu) as their leader
• acyuta-mukhān: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: acyuta + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc.2), Bahuvacana; बहुव्रीहिः—acyutaḥ mukhe yeṣām (those whose chief is Acyuta/Viṣṇu)

• devān: the gods
• devān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc.2), Bahuvacana

• yakṣa-patiḥ: the lord of Yakṣas
• yakṣa-patiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yakṣa + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nom.1), Ekavacana; तत्पुरुषः (yakṣāṇāṃ patiḥ = lord of Yakṣas)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nom.1), Ekavacana; pronoun in apposition

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; niścaya/avadhāraṇa-nipāta (indeed/emphatic particle)

• mahā-garva-āḍhya-manasā: with a mind filled with great pride
• mahā-garva-āḍhya-manasā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument; manner)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + garva + āḍhya + manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instr.3), Ekavacana; बहुव्रीहिः—mahāgarveṇa āḍhyaṃ manaḥ yasya (one whose mind is rich/full of great pride); instrumental of manner

• maheśaḥ: Maheśa (Śiva)
• maheśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maheśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nom.1), Ekavacana; proper noun (Śiva)

• prāha: said
• prāha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ah (अह्/ब्रू धातु ‘to say’)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• garva-hā: destroyer of pride
• garva-hā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: garva + han (हन् धातु)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nom.1), Ekavacana; epithet in apposition (destroyer of pride)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the episode; the direct speaker within the scene is Kubera addressing Lord Shiva)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Kubera (yakṣa-pati) becomes prideful and confronts the higher Lord; the episode illustrates that even celestial lords are paśu under māyā until humbled.

Significance: Hearing/reciting this section is traditionally taken as a remedy for dhanamada (pride of wealth) and aiśvaryamada (pride of power).

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu (Acyuta)
• Kubera (Yakshapati)

FAQs

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

It frames Śiva as Garva-hara, the one who dissolves ego. Even exalted beings like Kubera can fall into pride, and Śiva’s presence exposes and removes it so the soul (paśu) can progress toward liberation through humility and right devotion.

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

By calling Śiva “Garva-hara,” the verse supports Saguna worship: devotees approach the Linga/Maheśa not merely for boons, but for inner purification—especially the removal of ahaṅkāra (ego), which blocks true bhakti and grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily self-examination and humility while chanting a Śiva-mantra (especially the Panchākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), offering worship with the intention of ego-reduction rather than display or pride.