Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

दृष्ट्वा तं शंकरं सर्वे सर्वदेवशिखामणिम् । प्रणम्य तुष्टुवुर्भक्त्या साच्युता नतमस्तकाः

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvā taṃ śaṃkaraṃ sarve sarvadevaśikhāmaṇim | praṇamya tuṣṭuvurbhaktyā sācyutā natamastakāḥ

Translation

Seeing Śaṅkara—who is the crest-jewel among all the gods—they all bowed down, and with devotion began to praise Him, their heads lowered in reverent submission, free from any wavering or fall from righteousness.

Word by Word

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वक्रिया; धातुः √दृश्

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• शंकरम्: Śaṅkara
• शंकरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (कर्म), एकवचनम्

• सर्वे: all (of them)
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; सर्वनामसदृश-विशेषणप्रयोगः

• सर्वदेवशिखामणिम्: the crest-jewel of all gods
• सर्वदेवशिखामणिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक) + śikhāmaṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘सर्वदेवानां शिखामणिः’ (crest-jewel of all gods)

• प्रणम्य: having bowed
• प्रणम्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-nam (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वक्रिया; धातुः √नम् (नमने) उपसर्गः प्र-

• तुष्टुवुः: they praised
• तुष्टुवुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: stu (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परिपूर्णभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्; धातुः √स्तु (स्तुतौ)

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (करण), एकवचनम्

• स-अच्युताः: together with Acyuta (Viṣṇu)
• स-अच्युताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa (प्रातिपदिक) + acyuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; सहार्थक-तत्पुरुषः—‘अच्युतेन सह’ (together with Acyuta/Vishnu)

• नतमस्तकाः: with bowed heads
• नतमस्तकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + mastaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; बहुव्रीहिः—‘नतं मस्तकं येषाम्’ (whose heads are bowed)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that even the gods approach Śiva through humility (pranāma) and devotion (bhakti), affirming Him as the supreme Pati whose grace steadies beings and removes spiritual wavering.

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

It highlights Saguna-upāsanā: seeing the Lord’s manifest form, bowing, and offering stuti. In Linga worship, the same attitude is expressed through darśana, namaskāra, and hymns before the Linga, recognizing Śiva as the highest among all devas.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple practice is darśana followed by praṇāma and stotra-pāṭha—optionally with japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—cultivating a bowed, unwavering mind (natamastaka, sācyuta) during worship.