Shloka 53

Vṛṣeśākhya-Śivāvatāra and the Initiation of the Kṣīrasāgara-Manthana

Churning of the Milk Ocean

Devanagari script

नारीष्वमृतभूतासु संसक्तात्मा हरिर्विभो । पाताले तिष्ठतीदानीं रमते हि विकारवान्

Transliteration

nārīṣvamṛtabhūtāsu saṃsaktātmā harirvibho | pātāle tiṣṭhatīdānīṃ ramate hi vikāravān

Translation

O all-pervading Lord, Hari—his mind is attached to women who are, as it were, the very embodiment of death. Now he remains in Pātāla and, being subject to change, takes delight there.

Word by Word

• नारीषु: among women
• नारीषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन

• अमृतभूतासु: (women) who are like nectar / nectar-like
• अमृतभूतासु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमृत-भूता (प्रातिपदिक; अमृत + भूता)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying नारीषु)

• संसक्तात्मा: one whose mind is attached
• संसक्तात्मा: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संसक्त-आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; संसक्त (कृदन्त) + आत्मन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying हरिः)

• हरिः: Hari (Vishnu)
• हरिः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• विभो: O Lord (mighty one)
• विभो: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• पाताले: in the netherworld (Pātāla)
• पाताले: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाताल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• तिष्ठति: stands / remains
• तिष्ठति: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• इदानीम्: now
• इदानीम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इदानीम् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• रमते: enjoys / sports
• रमते: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/indeed)

• विकारवान्: subject to change / passionate
• विकारवान्: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विकारवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying हरिः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; it functions as a moral-theological diagnosis of bondage (pāśa) through kāma/āsakti leading to descent into lower realms (Pātāla imagery).

Significance: Serves as a cautionary teaching: even exalted beings, when overcome by vikāra (modification/passion), exemplify the need for Śiva’s grace to transcend māyā.

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

The verse warns that attachment to sense-objects—especially lust—creates vikāra (inner modification) and binds the soul to lower realms of experience; Shaiva Siddhanta frames liberation as freedom from pāśa (bondage) through devotion and grace of Pati (Shiva).

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

By contrasting bondage through attachment with the need for purity and steadiness, it supports turning the mind toward Saguna Shiva in Linga-worship, where focused bhakti and disciplined conduct refine the mind and make it fit to receive Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt vairāgya with daily Shiva-japa (especially the Panchakshara ‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya’), maintain purity disciplines, and support worship with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders to restrain desire and keep the mind anchored in Shiva.