Shloka 24

Vṛṣeśākhya-Śivāvatāra and the Initiation of the Kṣīrasāgara-Manthana

Churning of the Milk Ocean

Devanagari script

लक्ष्मीं शंखं कौस्तुभं च खड्गं जग्राह केशवः । जग्राहार्को हयं दिव्यमुच्चैःश्रवसमादरात्

Transliteration

lakṣmīṃ śaṃkhaṃ kaustubhaṃ ca khaḍgaṃ jagrāha keśavaḥ | jagrāhārko hayaṃ divyamuccaiḥśravasamādarāt

Translation

Keśava (Viṣṇu) took Lakṣmī, the conch, the Kaustubha jewel, and the sword; and the Sun (Arka) reverently took the divine horse Uccaiḥśravas.

Word by Word

• लक्ष्मीम्: Lakṣmī
• लक्ष्मीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• शङ्खम्: conch
• शङ्खम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• कौस्तुभम्: Kaustubha (jewel)
• कौस्तुभम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौस्तुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• खड्गम्: sword
• खड्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खड्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• जग्राह: took; seized
• जग्राह: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• केशवः: Keśava (Viṣṇu)
• केशवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• जग्राह: took; seized
• जग्राह: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अर्कः: Arka (the Sun)
• अर्कः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• हयम्: horse
• हयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• दिव्यम्: divine
• दिव्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण of हयम्

• उच्चैःश्रवसम्: Uccaiḥśravas
• उच्चैःश्रवसम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उच्चैःश्रवस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; proper name of the divine horse

• आदरात्: out of respect; with reverence
• आदरात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; हेतौ (ablative of cause)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Lalitā

Role: nurturing

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: samudra-manthana distribution of treasures motif

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Lakshmi
• Surya
• Uccaihsravas
• Kaustubha

FAQs

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

It shows how divine powers and auspicious emblems are distributed within cosmic order; from a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, such prosperity and authority operate under the higher sovereignty of Pati (Shiva), who is the ultimate source beyond all delegated powers.

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

By depicting even great deities receiving their distinctive signs and fortunes, the narrative implicitly points devotees to the supreme refuge—Shiva as Saguna (worshipped as Linga and Lord) and as the transcendent ground from which all divine functions arise.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate ādarā (reverent devotion) while offering to Shiva—especially Linga-pūjā with mantra-japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and maintaining purity through traditional Shaiva observances such as Tripundra and Rudraksha where appropriate.