Shloka 27

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

Devanagari script

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इत्युक्त्वैकतृणन्तेषां निचिक्षेप पुरस्ततः । जह्रे सर्वमदं यक्षरूप ईशस्सतांगतिः

Transliteration

nandīśvara uvāca | ityuktvaikatṛṇanteṣāṃ nicikṣepa purastataḥ | jahre sarvamadaṃ yakṣarūpa īśassatāṃgatiḥ

Translation

Nandīśvara said: “Having spoken thus, that Lord—refuge of the righteous—cast a single blade of grass before them. Assuming the form of a Yakṣa, Īśa then removed all their pride.”

Word by Word

• nandīśvaraḥ: Nandīśvara
• nandīśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nandīśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; proper noun

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच्) (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण-निपात (quotative)

• uktvā: having said
• uktvā: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/preceding action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच्) (धातु) + ktvā (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund/absolutive); 'having said'

• eka-tṛṇam: a single blade of grass
• eka-tṛṇam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + tṛṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास ('one' + 'blade of grass'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: षष्ठी, बहुवचन; 'of them'

• nicikṣepa: threw
• nicikṣepa: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṣip (क्षिप्) (धातु)
• Form: लिट्/लुङ्-रूप (narrative past; here commonly taken as लिट्/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; 'threw down'

• purastataḥ: in front
• purastataḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purastāt (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of place)

• jahre: removed
• jahre: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hṛ (हृ) (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; 'carried off/removed'

• sarva-madam: all pride
• sarva-madam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + mada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास ('all' + 'pride'); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• yakṣa-rūpaḥ: (in) yakṣa-form
• yakṣa-rūpaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yakṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: 'form of a yakṣa'); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• īśaḥ: the Lord
• īśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• satām-gatiḥ: refuge of the good
• satām-gatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: 'refuge/goal of the good'); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Nandīśvara (Nandī)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nandi
• Yaksha

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that Śiva, as Pati (the Lord), dispels the soul’s pride (mada/anava). By a simple act—placing a blade of grass—He reveals that true power belongs to the Divine alone and that humility is essential for grace and liberation.

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

Śiva’s Yakṣa form is a Saguna manifestation used to instruct devotees and devas alike. Linga-worship similarly trains the mind to surrender ego and recognize Śiva as the supreme refuge (satāṃ gatiḥ) beyond worldly status and power.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is ego-offering: perform japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with the attitude of surrender, and begin pūjā with a conscious renunciation of pride—seeing all ability and success as Śiva’s grace.