Shloka 27

Vṛṣeśākhya-Śivāvatāra and the Initiation of the Kṣīrasāgara-Manthana

Churning of the Milk Ocean

Devanagari script

दैत्यास्सुराख्यां रमणीमीश्वराज्ञाविमोहिताः । जगृहुः सकला व्यास सर्वे धन्वन्तरिं जनाः

Transliteration

daityāssurākhyāṃ ramaṇīmīśvarājñāvimohitāḥ | jagṛhuḥ sakalā vyāsa sarve dhanvantariṃ janāḥ

Translation

O Vyāsa, deluded by the Lord’s command through the maiden named Surā, all the Dāityas seized Dhanvantari; indeed, all of them together took hold of him.

Word by Word

• दैत्याः: the Daityas (demons)
• दैत्याः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन (Plural)

• सुर-आख्याम्: (a woman) named Surā
• सुर-आख्याम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; ‘सुराख्या’ नाम्नी

• रमणीम्: a beautiful woman
• रमणीम्: कर्म (Object; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रमणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; सुराख्याम् इत्यस्य विशेषण/अप्पोज़िशन

• ईश्वर-आज्ञा-विमोहिताः: deluded by the Lord’s command
• ईश्वर-आज्ञा-विमोहिताः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Adjectival to subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक) + आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक) + विमोहित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; मुह् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण ‘विमोहित’ (deluded) ; ईश्वरस्य आज्ञया (by the Lord’s command) इत्यर्थे तृतीया-सम्बन्धार्थक-समास

• जगृहुः: seized, took
• जगृहुः: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचन

• सकलाः: all, entire
• सकलाः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying जनाः/सर्वे)

• व्यास: O Vyāsa
• व्यास: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन; एकवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: कर्ता-विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन; विशेषण

• धन्वन्तरिम्: Dhanvantari
• धन्वन्तरिम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन्वन्तरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• जनाः: people, beings
• जनाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; apposition to दैत्याः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not Jyotirliṅga-related; depicts delusion (vimohana) arising through Īśvara’s ordinance in the manthana narrative, leading to conflict over amṛta.

Significance: Instructional: illustrates how māyā/tirodhāna operates—beings become bewildered and act impulsively, underscoring the need for discernment and devotion to transcend delusion.

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Samudra-manthana aftermath: scramble for amṛta; Īśvara’s niyati triggers vimohana, precipitating seizure of Dhanvantari.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Dhanvantari
• Daityas
• Sura (Surā-named maiden)

FAQs

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

It highlights that even mighty beings act under īśvarājñā (the Lord’s governance) and become deluded by māyā; the Shaiva takeaway is to seek Pati (Shiva) as the true controller rather than trusting power or intrigue.

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

The narrative underscores Saguna Shiva as the active Lord who directs events in the world; Linga-worship trains devotion and surrender to that supreme governance beyond the push-and-pull of rival factions.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with the attitude of śaraṇāgati (surrender), and apply Tripuṇḍra-bhasma as a reminder to transcend delusion and align with Shiva’s will.