Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

यक्षेश्वर उवाच । हे सुरा निखिला यूयं मद्वचश्शृणुतादरात् । यथार्थं वच्मि नासत्यं सर्वगर्वापहारकम्

Transliteration

yakṣeśvara uvāca | he surā nikhilā yūyaṃ madvacaśśṛṇutādarāt | yathārthaṃ vacmi nāsatyaṃ sarvagarvāpahārakam

Translation

Yakṣeśvara said: “O all you Devas, listen with reverence to my words. I speak what is true, not falsehood—words that strip away every kind of pride.”

Word by Word

• yakṣeśvaraḥ: Lord of Yakshas
• yakṣeśvaraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yakṣa + īśvara (यक्ष + ईश्वर)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच्)
• Form: Lit Lakara (Perfect), 3rd Person, Singular

• he: O
• he: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: he (हे)
• Form: Interjection

• surāḥ: gods
• surāḥ: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (सुर)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (सम्बोधन), Plural

• nikhilāḥ: all
• nikhilāḥ: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nikhila (निखिल)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (सम्बोधन), Plural

• yūyam: you all
• yūyam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (युष्मद्)
• Form: Second Person Pronoun, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• madvacaḥ: my words
• madvacaḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mad + vacas (मद् + वचस्)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• śṛṇuta: listen
• śṛṇuta: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (श्रु)
• Form: Lot Lakara (Imperative), 2nd Person, Plural

• ādarāt: with respect
• ādarāt: Hetu (Cause/Manner/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādara (आदर)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• yathārtham: truthfully
• yathārtham: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā + artha (यथा + अर्थ)
• Form: Adverb

• vacmi: I speak
• vacmi: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच्)
• Form: Lat Lakara (Present), 1st Person, Singular

• na: not
• na: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (न)
• Form: Negation

• asatyam: untruth
• asatyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a + satya (अ + सत्य)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• sarvagarvāpahārakam: destroyer of all pride
• sarvagarvāpahārakam: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva + garva + apahāraka (सर्व + गर्व + अपहारक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

Speaker

Yaksheshvara (Lord of the Yakshas)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Devas

FAQs

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

The verse elevates satya (truthfulness) and humility as spiritual disciplines: speech aligned with truth becomes a means to dissolve garva (ego), which in Shaiva Siddhanta corresponds to the anava-impurity that binds the soul away from Shiva.

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

Linga-worship is not merely external ritual; it is inner purification. By emphasizing truth that removes pride, the verse points to the bhava (inner attitude) required for Saguna Shiva devotion—approaching the Linga with reverence, sincerity, and ego-surrender.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is satya-vākya (truthful speech) as daily vrata, paired with humble japa of Shiva’s name (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), offered with the intention of reducing ego rather than increasing status.