Shloka 44

Devanagari script

सुरसायास्सहस्रं तु सर्पाणाममितौजसाम् । अनेकशिरसां तेषां खेचराणां महात्मनाम्

Transliteration

surasāyāssahasraṃ tu sarpāṇāmamitaujasām | anekaśirasāṃ teṣāṃ khecarāṇāṃ mahātmanām

Translation

Indeed, Surasā had a thousand mighty serpents of immeasurable power—great-souled beings who roam the sky, many of them many-headed.

Word by Word

• सुरसायाः: of Surasā
• सुरसायाः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरसा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन — 'of Surasā'

• सहस्रम्: a thousand
• सहस्रम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; implied 'were')
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — संख्या/समूहवाचक; here nominative as subject-complement: 'a thousand'

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: सम्बन्ध (discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle) — विरोध/विशेषार्थे 'but/indeed'

• सर्पाणाम्: of serpents
• सर्पाणाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — 'of serpents'

• अमितौजसाम्: of immeasurable might
• अमितौजसाम्: विशेषण (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमित-ओजस् (प्रातिपदिक; components: अमित + ओजस्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — विशेषण; 'of immeasurable strength' qualifying 'सर्पाणाम्'

• अनेकशिरसाम्: many-headed
• अनेकशिरसाम्: विशेषण (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनेक-शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक; components: अनेक + शिरस्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — विशेषण; 'of many heads' (qualifying the same group)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — सर्वनाम; 'of them'

• खेचराणाम्: of the sky-goers
• खेचराणाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खेचर (प्रातिपदिक; components: ख + चर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — 'of sky-goers'

• महात्मनाम्: great-souled
• महात्मनाम्: विशेषण (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; components: महा + आत्मन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — विशेषण; 'of great-souled' qualifying 'खेचराणाम्/सर्पाणाम्'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Surasā
• serpents (Nāgas)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the vast hierarchy of powerful beings within creation, implying that even the mightiest nāgas remain within the realm of Pāśa (bondage) unless they turn toward Pati—Lord Shiva—who alone grants liberation.

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

By portraying formidable celestial beings, the text implicitly elevates Saguna Shiva (worshiped as the Linga) as the supreme refuge beyond all such powers; devotion to the Linga is presented as superior to reliance on worldly or celestial might.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to seek Shiva’s protection through japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and steady remembrance, rather than fear of powerful beings; if performed, Tripuṇḍra-bhasma and rudrākṣa support this Shiva-centered discipline.