Shloka 31

Vṛṣeśākhya-Śivāvatāra and the Initiation of the Kṣīrasāgara-Manthana

Churning of the Milk Ocean

Devanagari script

देवाश्शंकरमापन्ना विह्वलाश्शिवमायया । सर्वे शक्रादयस्तात दैतेयैरर्दिता बलात्

Transliteration

devāśśaṃkaramāpannā vihvalāśśivamāyayā | sarve śakrādayastāta daiteyairarditā balāt

Translation

O dear one, all the gods—Indra and the rest—bewildered by Śiva’s Māyā and hard-pressed by the Daityas’ force, went and took refuge in Śaṅkara.

Word by Word

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• शंकरम्: Śaṅkara
• शंकरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आपन्नाः: having approached (took refuge in)
• आपन्नाः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + पद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP used adjectivally), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; अर्थ: 'having resorted to/approached'

• विह्वलाः: distressed
• विह्वलाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विह्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• शिव-मायया: by Śiva's māyā
• शिव-मायया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (śivasya māyā)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• शक्र-आदयः: Indra and others
• शक्र-आदयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (śakraḥ ādiḥ yeṣām = Indra and others)

• तात: O dear one / O father
• तात: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• दैतेयैः: by the Daityas
• दैतेयैः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैतेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• अर्दिताः: oppressed
• अर्दिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्द् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; 'oppressed/afflicted'

• बलात्: forcibly
• बलात्: Hetu/Karaṇa (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; 'by force'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shankara
• Indra
• Devas
• Daityas

FAQs

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

It teaches śaraṇāgati (taking refuge): even the Devas, when overwhelmed, turn to Śiva as the supreme Pati whose grace alone dispels distress and restores dharma.

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

Refuge in Śaṅkara points to Saguna Shiva as the accessible protector; in practice, devotees approach Shiva through Linga worship, prayer, and devotion, seeking his compassionate intervention.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is mantra-śaraṇāgati—japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” accompanied by simple Linga worship (water/abhiṣeka) and remembrance of Shiva as the sole refuge.