Shloka 4

Vṛṣeśākhya-Śivāvatāra and the Initiation of the Kṣīrasāgara-Manthana

Churning of the Milk Ocean

Devanagari script

आसञ्छुचिस्मितास्सर्वे केनेदं मन्थनं भवेत् । स्वकार्यसिद्धये तस्य ब्रह्मन्निति सुरासुराः

Transliteration

āsañchucismitāssarve kenedaṃ manthanaṃ bhavet | svakāryasiddhaye tasya brahmanniti surāsurāḥ

Translation

All of them sat down with pure, gentle smiles and said: “O Brahmā, by whose agency will this churning take place? Tell us—so that his purpose may be fulfilled,” thus spoke the devas and the asuras.

Word by Word

• आसन्: were
• आसन्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (plural)

• शुचि-स्मिताः: smiling brightly/purely
• शुचि-स्मिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक) + स्मित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (plural); विशेषण (adjective)

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

• केन: by whom/with what
• केन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (interrogative), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन

• मन्थनम्: churning
• मन्थनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्थन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• भवेत्: might happen/should occur
• भवेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• स्व-कार्य-सिद्धये: for the accomplishment of one’s own task
• स्व-कार्य-सिद्धये: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine) [सिद्धि], चतुर्थी (Dative/4th), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (for purpose)

• तस्य: of him/of that
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahman (Brahmā)
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Vacana-marker (वचनचिह्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्यसमाप्तिसूचक/उद्धरणचिह्न (quotative particle)

• सुर-असुराः: gods and demons
• सुर-असुराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक) + असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्वसमास (copulative)

Speaker

Devas and Asuras (addressing Brahma)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Samudra-manthana planning council

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Devas
• Asuras

FAQs

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

It highlights that even mighty powers (devas and asuras) require right guidance and proper agency to accomplish a cosmic task—suggesting that success depends on alignment with divine order, ultimately under the Lord’s governance.

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

The verse reflects dependence on a higher coordinating intelligence; in Shaiva understanding, such coordination culminates in Pati (Shiva) as the supreme controller, whom devotees approach in Saguna forms (including the Linga) for the fulfillment of dharmic aims.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is sankalpa with humility—begin actions after invoking Shiva through the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and seeking right guidance, rather than relying solely on personal power.