Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

निरायुधां च तां दृष्ट्वा ब्रह्माद्यास्त्रिदिवेश्वराः । सायुधान्तां शिवां कर्तुं मनः सन्दधिरे सुराः

Transliteration

nirāyudhāṃ ca tāṃ dṛṣṭvā brahmādyāstridiveśvarāḥ | sāyudhāntāṃ śivāṃ kartuṃ manaḥ sandadhire surāḥ

Translation

Seeing that Śivā, the Divine Goddess, was without weapons, Brahmā and the other lords of the three worlds—the gods—resolved in their minds to make her armed and ready for battle.

Word by Word

• निर्-आयुधाम्: unarmed
• निर्-आयुधाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर् (उपसर्ग) + आयुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्/निर्-प्रत्ययान्त-विशेषणम् (आयुधरहिताम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having seen’

• ब्रह्म-आद्याः: Brahmā and others
• ब्रह्म-आद्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मा आदिः येषाम्)

• त्रिदिव-ईश्वराः: lords of heaven
• त्रिदिव-ईश्वराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिदिव (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (त्रिदिवस्य ईश्वराः)

• स-आयुध-अन्ताम्: armed (in that state)
• स-आयुध-अन्ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/सह) + आयुध (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; तत्पुरुषः (आयुधेन सह अन्तः/अवस्था यस्याः)

• शिवाम्: Śivā (the Goddess)
• शिवाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कर्तुम्: to make
• कर्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive), ‘to make/do’

• मनः: mind/intention
• मनः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• सन्दधिरे: fixed/placed (their mind)
• सन्दधिरे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + धा (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• सुराः: the gods
• सुराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: nurturing

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Devas’ collective sankalpa to equip the Goddess for cosmic defense (dharma-protection motif)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Shiva
• Parvati
• Devas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the Devas recognizing Śivā-Śakti as the divine power that safeguards dharma; their resolve to arm her symbolizes surrendering limited egoic power to the supreme, auspicious energy that removes bondage (pāśa) and protects the soul (paśu) under the Lord (Pati).

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

It points to Saguna worship: the manifest, compassionate Divine acts in the world through forms and attributes. Just as the Liṅga is worshiped as Shiva’s accessible presence, Śivā (Pārvatī) is revered as the active power of Shiva—together expressing grace and protection.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to seek divine protection through focused resolve (saṅkalpa) and japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—along with traditional Shaiva supports like vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa, offered with devotion to Shiva-Śakti.