Shloka 33

Vṛṣeśākhya-Śivāvatāra and the Initiation of the Kṣīrasāgara-Manthana

Churning of the Milk Ocean

Devanagari script

अपाययत्सुरांस्तांश्च मोहिनीस्त्रीस्वरूपधृक् । मोहयित्वा सुरान्सर्वान्हरिर्मायाविनां वरः

Transliteration

apāyayatsurāṃstāṃśca mohinīstrīsvarūpadhṛk | mohayitvā surānsarvānharirmāyāvināṃ varaḥ

Translation

Assuming the form of Mohinī, a woman of enchanting delusion, Hari made those gods drink; and after bewildering all the Devas, that Hari—foremost among wielders of māyā—accomplished his purpose.

Word by Word

• अपाययत्: made (them) drink
• अपाययत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप-पा (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular); णिच् (causative) प्रयोगः

• सुरान्: the gods
• सुरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), द्वितीया (Acc. 2), बहुवचन (plural)

• तान्: those
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), द्वितीया (Acc. 2), बहुवचन (plural)

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

• मोहिनी: Mohinī
• मोहिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोहिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन (singular)

• स्त्री-स्वरूप-धृक्: bearing a woman's form
• स्त्री-स्वरूप-धृक्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक) + धृक्/धृ (धातु; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन (singular); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (स्त्रीस्वरूपं धत्ते इति)

• मोहयित्वा: having deluded
• मोहयित्वा: Kriyā (क्रिया; पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), causative sense (णिच्): ‘having deluded’

• सुरान्: the gods
• सुरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier of सुरान्)

• हरिः: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मायाविनाम्: of the illusionists
• मायाविनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मायाविन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Gen. 6), बहुवचन

• वरः: the best
• वरः: Karta (कर्ता; विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Mohini
• Devas

FAQs

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

It highlights māyā as a divine power that can bewilder even celestial beings; from a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, it points to the need for viveka (discernment) and Shiva-bhakti to transcend delusion and move toward liberation.

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

The narrative underscores that forms and appearances can mislead; Linga-worship anchors the mind in Shiva as the stable, auspicious Reality (Saguna for worship, leading toward the realization beyond māyā), helping the devotee remain steady amid enchantment and distraction.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Daily japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and mindful self-restraint is a practical takeaway—cultivating inner clarity so the mind is not carried away by मोह (delusion).