Shloka 30

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

Devanagari script

अथासीत्तु नभोवाणी देवविस्मयहारिणी । यक्षोऽयं शंकरो देवाः सर्वगर्वापहारकः

Transliteration

athāsīttu nabhovāṇī devavismayahāriṇī | yakṣo'yaṃ śaṃkaro devāḥ sarvagarvāpahārakaḥ

Translation

Then a voice resounded from the sky, dispelling the gods’ bewilderment: “O Devas, this ‘Yakṣa’ is none other than Śaṅkara (Śiva), the One who removes all pride.”

Word by Word

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/discourse)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तर (then)

• āsīt: there was
• āsīt: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (अस्) (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; 'was/arose'

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अनुयोग (but/indeed)

• nabhaḥ-vāṇī: a voice from the sky
• nabhaḥ-vāṇī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nabhas (प्रातिपदिक) + vāṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: 'voice from the sky'); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• deva-vismaya-hāriṇī: dispelling the gods' bewilderment
• deva-vismaya-hāriṇī: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + vismaya (प्रातिपदिक) + hāriṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास ('removing the gods' astonishment'); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (qualifying vāṇī)

• yakṣaḥ: the Yakṣa
• yakṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ayam: this
• ayam: Visheshana (विशेषण/Demonstrative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'this'

• śaṃkaraḥ: Śaṅkara
• śaṃkaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• devāḥ: O gods
• devāḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन/प्रथमा, बहुवचन; direct address

• sarva-garva-apahārakaḥ: remover of all pride
• sarva-garva-apahārakaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + garva (प्रातिपदिक) + apahāraka (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास ('remover of all pride'); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (qualifying śaṃkaraḥ/yakṣaḥ)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the celestial proclamation within the story)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: यक्षोऽयं शंकरो देवाः सर्वगर्वापहारकः

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that the mysterious power humbling the Devas is Śiva Himself—Pati, the Lord—whose grace primarily destroys ahankāra (pride), the key inner bond obstructing liberation.

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

By revealing the Yakṣa as Śaṅkara, the text points to Saguna Śiva who becomes knowable through divine signs and revelation; Linga-worship similarly trains the devotee to recognize Śiva as the hidden reality behind all power and achievement.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily humility-oriented japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—offered with the intention to dissolve pride, along with simple Śiva-pūjā as an antidote to ego.