Shloka 33

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

Devanagari script

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इति श्रुत्वा नभोवाणीं बुबुधुस्ते गतस्मयाः । यक्षेश्वरम्प्रणेमुश्च तुष्टुवुश्च तमीश्वरम्

Transliteration

nandīśvara uvāca | iti śrutvā nabhovāṇīṃ bubudhuste gatasmayāḥ | yakṣeśvarampraṇemuśca tuṣṭuvuśca tamīśvaram

Translation

Nandīśvara said: Having thus heard the celestial voice, they came to their senses, their pride dispelled. They bowed to the Lord of the Yakṣas and praised that sovereign Lord.

Word by Word

• नन्दीश्वरः: Nandīśvara
• नन्दीश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दीश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नन्दिनः ईश्वरः)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

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

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + त्वा (कृत्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• नभो-वाणीम्: the heavenly voice
• नभो-वाणीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नभस् (प्रातिपदिक) + वाणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नभसः वाणी)

• बुबुधुः: they understood
• बुबुधुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बुध् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• ते: they/those
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• गत-स्मयाः: whose pride was gone
• गत-स्मयाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्) + स्मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; (येषां स्मयः गतः)

• यक्ष-ईश्वरम्: the Lord of the Yakṣas
• यक्ष-ईश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (यक्षाणाम् ईश्वरः)

• प्रणेमुः: they bowed down
• प्रणेमुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + नम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• तुष्टुवुः: they praised
• तुष्टुवुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• तम्: that
• तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषण

• ईश्वरम्: Lord
• ईश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Nandishvara (Nandi)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Nandishvara
• Yaksheshvara
• Ishvara

FAQs

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

The verse highlights an essential Shaiva teaching: when divine grace intervenes (here as a celestial voice), ego dissolves and true understanding arises, expressed through surrender (praṇāma) and devotional praise (stuti) of the Lord.

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

Though the verse does not name the Liṅga directly, its core devotional acts—bowing and praising Īśvara—are the same inner posture required for Saguna Śiva worship, where reverence, humility, and heartfelt stuti are central to approaching Śiva’s manifest presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is to cultivate humility and perform stuti and namaskāra: recite Śiva-stotras or the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with prostration, letting pride subside before worship.