Shloka 21

Diter Vratabhaṅga and Indra’s Intervention

Diti–Kaśyapa Narrative

Devanagari script

अपां तु वरुणं राज्ये राज्ञां वैश्रवणं प्रभुम् । आदित्यानां तथा विष्णुं वसूनामथ पावकम्

Transliteration

apāṃ tu varuṇaṃ rājye rājñāṃ vaiśravaṇaṃ prabhum | ādityānāṃ tathā viṣṇuṃ vasūnāmatha pāvakam

Translation

As the sovereign over the waters is Varuṇa; as the lord among kings is Vaiśravaṇa (Kubera); among the Ādityas is Viṣṇu; and among the Vasus is Pāvaka (Agni).

Word by Word

• अपाम्: of the waters
• अपाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; Genitive plural

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/particle; contrast/emphasis

• वरुणम्: Varuṇa
• वरुणम्: Karma (कर्म/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• राज्ये: in the realm/kingdom
• राज्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; Locative singular

• राज्ञाम्: of kings
• राज्ञाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; Genitive plural

• वैश्रवणम्: Vaiśravaṇa (Kubera)
• वैश्रवणम्: Karma (कर्म/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्रवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• प्रभुम्: the lord/master
• प्रभुम्: Karma (कर्म/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; Accusative singular; appositional epithet

• आदित्यानाम्: of the Ādityas
• आदित्यानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; Genitive plural

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण/indeclinable adverb; 'likewise'

• विष्णुम्: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (कर्म/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• वसूनाम्: of the Vasus
• वसूनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; Genitive plural

• अथ: then/and
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/particle; sequence ('then/and')

• पावकम्: Pāvaka (Agni, fire)
• पावकम्: Karma (कर्म/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पावक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; Accusative singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Varuna
• Vaishravana (Kubera)
• Vishnu
• Pavaka (Agni)

FAQs

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

It lists the foremost presiding deities within specific cosmic domains, implying an ordered universe; from a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, such rulers are empowered functions within creation, while ultimate refuge is Pati (Shiva), the source and governor of all powers.

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

By showing that each realm has a chief deity, it supports the Purana’s broader teaching that worship of the Shiva-linga is worship of the supreme Lord who stands above and sustains all these offices, making Saguna Shiva the unifying object of devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to center daily worship on Shiva with the Panchakshara mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), offering water (ap) and fire (dīpa) as symbols of purified elements, rather than seeking separate boons from many departmental deities.