Shloka 18

Mahiṣāsura’s Conquest of Svarga and the Devas’ Appeal to Śiva and Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

आनिलेन श्रवोद्वन्द्वं तथान्येषां स्वरोकसाम् । तेजसां संभवः पद्मालया सा परमेश्वरी

Transliteration

ānilena śravodvandvaṃ tathānyeṣāṃ svarokasām | tejasāṃ saṃbhavaḥ padmālayā sā parameśvarī

Translation

By the agency of Ānila, the Wind, the pair of ears was formed, and likewise the other senses with their respective functions. From the principle of fire arose the Divine Śakti abiding in the lotus—she is the Supreme Goddess, Parameśvarī.

Word by Word

• आनिलेन: by the Wind-god (Vāyu)
• आनिलेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आनिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• श्रवः-द्वन्द्वम्: the pair of ears
• श्रवः-द्वन्द्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रवस्/श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वन्द्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (द्वे श्रवसी/कर्णौ)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• अन्येषाम्: of others
• अन्येषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम-शब्दः

• स्वर-ओकसाम्: of the dwellers in heaven (celestials)
• स्वर-ओकसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर (प्रातिपदिक) + ओकस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्वराणाम् ओकसः)

• तेजसाम्: of the splendors/energies
• तेजसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन

• सम्भवः: origin/coming-into-being
• सम्भवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम् + भू (धातु) → सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भाववाचक-नाम

• पद्म-आलया: Padmālayā (Lakṣmī; lotus-dweller)
• पद्म-आलया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक) + आलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पद्मस्य आलयः)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• परमेश्वरी: the Supreme Goddess
• परमेश्वरी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (परमा ईश्वरी)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Lalitā

Role: creative

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Emergence of Parameśvarī from tejas; adhyātma mapping of senses to elemental governance

Characters & Entities

• Parameshvari
• Shakti

FAQs

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

It links the senses to the elemental principles and points to the Supreme Śakti as the luminous source behind manifestation—guiding the seeker to transcend sense-bound identity and turn toward Pati (the Lord) through inner discernment.

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

It supports Saguna worship by showing that the cosmos and the body’s faculties arise from divine principles; Linga-worship becomes a way to reorient the senses and their powers back to Shiva-Śakti, the causal reality behind all functions.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Sense-restraint (indriya-nigraha) and tattva-dhyāna: during japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), contemplate each sense as arising from the elements and offer its activity inwardly to Shiva, supported by vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) and disciplined breath (vāyu).