Shloka 16

उपमन्यूपदेशः

Upamanyu’s Instruction

Devanagari script

इन्द्रेण वालखिल्यास्ते परिभूतास्तु शङ्करात् । लेभिरे सोमहर्तारं गरुडं सर्वदुर्जयम्

Transliteration

indreṇa vālakhilyāste paribhūtāstu śaṅkarāt | lebhire somahartāraṃ garuḍaṃ sarvadurjayam

Translation

The Vālakhilya sages, humiliated by Indra, sought refuge in Śaṅkara. Through Śaṅkara’s support they obtained Garuḍa—invincible to all—as the one who would seize the Soma.

Word by Word

• इन्द्रेण: by Indra
• इन्द्रेण: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वालखिल्याः: the Vālakhilyas (sages)
• वालखिल्याः: कर्म (Patient/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वालखिल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (गणनाम), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ते: they
• ते: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• परिभूताः: were insulted/overpowered
• परिभूताः: क्रिया (Verbal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-भू (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-कृदन्त (PPP) बहुवचन; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मणि ‘were insulted/overpowered’

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वय-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• शङ्करात्: from Śaṅkara
• शङ्करात्: अपादान (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• लेभिरे: they obtained
• लेभिरे: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• सोमहर्तारम्: the stealer of Soma
• सोमहर्तारम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम + हर्तृ (प्रातिपदिकानि; √हृ ‘to take/steal’)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘सोमस्य हर्ता’; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गरुडम्: Garuḍa
• गरुडम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गरुड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सर्वदुर्जयम्: invincible to all
• सर्वदुर्जयम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + दुर्जय (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (उपपद/अव्ययीभावार्थ-न) ‘सर्वैः दुर्जयः’ (hard to conquer by all); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse highlights Śaṅkara as the refuge of insulted sages and the unseen divine support behind cosmic/political outcomes (Garuḍa empowered to seize Soma).

Significance: Frames Śiva as āśraya (refuge) and anugraha-kartṛ (giver of enabling grace) when dharma is obstructed by deva-pride.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Indra
• Vālakhilya sages
• Garuḍa
• Soma

FAQs

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

It teaches that when the pashu (bound soul) is wounded by prideful power (here, Indra’s arrogance), refuge in Pati—Śaṅkara—brings protection and effective help. Shiva’s grace converts humiliation into a turning-point toward dharma and inner steadiness.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Shiva as the compassionate Lord who responds to surrender and restores order. In Linga-worship, devotees approach Śaṅkara as the accessible form of the Supreme, trusting that His anugraha (grace) can arrange even worldly means (like Garuḍa) for righteous outcomes.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is śaraṇāgati with japa of the Panchākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—seeking Śaṅkara’s anugraha when facing insult or adversity. Offerings with vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) and a calm, non-reactive mind support this surrender.