Shloka 11

Diter Vratabhaṅga and Indra’s Intervention

Diti–Kaśyapa Narrative

Devanagari script

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे शक्रस्तस्याः कुक्षिं प्रविश्य सः । वज्रपाणिस्तु तं गर्भं सप्तधा हि न्यकृन्तत

Transliteration

etasminnantare śakrastasyāḥ kukṣiṃ praviśya saḥ | vajrapāṇistu taṃ garbhaṃ saptadhā hi nyakṛntata

Translation

Meanwhile, Śakra (Indra) entered her womb; and Vajrapāṇi, wielding the thunderbolt, indeed cut that fetus into seven parts.

Word by Word

• एतस्मिन्: in this
• एतस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• अन्तरे: in the interval/meanwhile
• अन्तरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘अन्तरे’ = ‘अवसरे/मध्ये’

• शक्रः: Indra
• शक्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• तस्याः: of her
• तस्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• कुक्षिम्: womb/belly
• कुक्षिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kukṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• प्रविश्य: having entered
• प्रविश्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-viś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having entered’

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• वज्रपाणिः: the thunderbolt-handed (Indra)
• वज्रपाणिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajra + pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘वज्रः पाणौ यस्य’—epithet)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधार्थक-निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• तम्: that
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• गर्भम्: embryo/fetus
• गर्भम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: garbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• सप्तधा: into seven parts
• सप्तधा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saptadhā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• न्यकृन्तत: cut (asunder)
• न्यकृन्तत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni + kṛt (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘he cut’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Shakra/Vajrapani)

FAQs

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

The verse illustrates how worldly power, even that of Indra, acts from fear and self-preservation; in Shaiva understanding, such actions remain within the bound realm of karma and limitation, while true refuge is Pati (Śiva), the transcendent Lord beyond fear.

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

By contrasting Indra’s forceful intervention with the higher sovereignty of Śiva, the narrative implicitly directs devotion toward Saguna Śiva—worshipped as the Linga—who alone grants protection and liberation beyond the shifting politics of the Devas.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is to seek stability through Shiva-upāsanā—japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady devotion—rather than relying on worldly authorities; this is the Shaiva remedy for fear and agitation.