Shloka 29

Vṛṣeśākhya-Śivāvatāra and the Initiation of the Kṣīrasāgara-Manthana

Churning of the Milk Ocean

Devanagari script

अमृतार्थं महायुद्धं संबभूव जयैषिणाम् । सुराणामसुराणां च मिथः संक्षुब्धचेतसाम्

Transliteration

amṛtārthaṃ mahāyuddhaṃ saṃbabhūva jayaiṣiṇām | surāṇāmasurāṇāṃ ca mithaḥ saṃkṣubdhacetasām

Translation

For the sake of amṛta, a great war arose among those hungry for victory—between the Devas and the Asuras—whose minds were mutually agitated and inflamed.

Word by Word

• अमृतार्थम्: for (obtaining) nectar
• अमृतार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अमृत + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; अर्थे (for the sake of) — क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative)

• महायुद्धम्: a great battle
• महायुद्धम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (singular)

• संबभूव: arose; came to be
• संबभूव: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• जयैषिणाम्: of those desiring victory
• जयैषिणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जय + एषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive, 6th), बहुवचन (plural)

• सुराणाम्: of the gods
• सुराणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive, 6th), बहुवचन (plural)

• असुराणाम्: of the demons
• असुराणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive, 6th), बहुवचन (plural)

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

• मिथः: mutually; with each other
• मिथः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मिथस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), परस्परार्थक (reciprocal adverb)

• संक्षुब्धचेतसाम्: of the agitated-minded
• संक्षुब्धचेतसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + क्षुभ् (धातु) + चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहिसमास; षष्ठी (Genitive, 6th), बहुवचन (plural); (of) those whose minds are agitated

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it marks the outbreak of deva-asura war over amṛta—conflict that, in Śaiva reading, unfolds under Rudra’s overarching governance and culminates in re-establishing cosmic order.

Significance: Moral: craving for immortality without surrender breeds saṃkṣobha (inner turbulence) and violence; devotion and discernment are the path beyond rivalry.

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Cosmic conflict phase of samudra-manthana: deva-asura war for amṛta; collective mental agitation (saṃkṣobha) as a symptom of bondage.

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Asuras
• Amrita

FAQs

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

It shows that even a lofty goal like amṛta can become a cause of bondage when pursued with victory-craving and mental agitation; Shaiva Siddhanta emphasizes purification of intention and surrender to Pati (Shiva) rather than ego-driven conquest.

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

The conflict born from restless desire contrasts with Linga-worship, which steadies the mind through devotion (bhakti) and inner offering; Saguna Shiva is approached as the compassionate Lord who pacifies turmoil and turns seekers from rivalry to grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to calm saṃkṣubdha-citta, along with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha as reminders of vairāgya and restraint over victory-impulses.