Shloka 7

Vṛṣeśākhya-Śivāvatāra and the Initiation of the Kṣīrasāgara-Manthana

Churning of the Milk Ocean

Devanagari script

मन्दरं चैव मन्थानं रज्जुं कुरुत वासुकिम् । मिथस्सर्वे मिलित्वा तु मंथनं कुरुतादरात्

Transliteration

mandaraṃ caiva manthānaṃ rajjuṃ kuruta vāsukim | mithassarve militvā tu maṃthanaṃ kurutādarāt

Translation

“Make Mandara the churning-rod, and make Vāsuki the rope. Then all of you, joining together in mutual cooperation, churn with reverent effort.”

Word by Word

• मन्दरम्: Mandara (mountain)
• मन्दरम्: कर्म (object of implied ‘make/use’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्दर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• एव: indeed
• एव: निपात
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात

• मन्थानम्: the churning-rod
• मन्थानम्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• रज्जुम्: rope
• रज्जुम्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रज्जु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कुरुत: make / take / arrange (you all)
• कुरुत: क्रिया (imperative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद (Vedic/epic variant for कुरुत)

• वासुकिम्: Vāsuki
• वासुकिम्: कर्म (object; to be made as rope)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुकि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मिथः: mutually, together
• मिथः: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मिथः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, परस्परार्थक क्रियाविशेषण (reciprocal adverb)

• सर्वे: all (of you)
• सर्वे: कर्ता (subject of मिलित्वा/कुरुत)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• मिलित्वा: having assembled
• मिलित्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मिल् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having joined’

• तु: then
• तु: निपात
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/अनुक्रम (but/then)

• मन्थनम्: the churning
• मन्थनम्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्थन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कुरुत: do / perform (you all)
• कुरुत: क्रिया (imperative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• आदरात्: with earnestness / out of respect
• आदरात्: हेतु (cause/manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; हेतौ/कारणे (ablative of cause)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the instruction given during the Devas–Asuras churning episode)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Instructional detail of samudra-manthana implements (Mandara, Vāsuki) rather than a localized liṅga origin.

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Samudra-manthana operational instructions: Mandara as manthāna, Vāsuki as rope; cooperative exertion is emphasized.

Characters & Entities

• Vasuki
• Mandara

FAQs

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

The verse frames success as arising from disciplined effort joined with reverence (adarāt) and harmony among beings—an ethic aligned with Shaiva dharma, where right means and right inner attitude purify action and make it spiritually fruitful.

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

Although it speaks of churning, its devotional principle is Saguna-oriented: sacred results manifest when collective action is performed with respectful devotion—akin to how Linga worship emphasizes correct method (vidhi) and bhāva (reverent intent) together.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to perform japa (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and daily Shiva-upāsanā with steadiness and adarā (reverent attention), ideally supported by satsanga—cooperative spiritual practice rather than isolated negligence.