Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

ततः शूलं महेशानो महेशान्यै समर्पयत । चक्रं च कृष्णो भगवाञ्च्छंखं पाशं च पाशभृत

Transliteration

tataḥ śūlaṃ maheśāno maheśānyai samarpayata | cakraṃ ca kṛṣṇo bhagavāñcchaṃkhaṃ pāśaṃ ca pāśabhṛta

Translation

Then Maheshana (Lord Śiva) presented the sacred trident to Maheshānī (Pārvatī). And Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa bestowed the discus; and the bearer of the noose (Varuṇa) granted the conch (śaṅkha) and the noose (pāśa) as well.

Word by Word

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), तस्मात्/ततः = 'thereafter/from that' (adverb)

• शूलम्: trident
• शूलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• महेशानः: Maheśāna (Śiva)
• महेशानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maheśāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महेशान्यै: to Maheśānī (Pārvatī)
• महेशान्यै: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maheśānī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• समर्पयत्: offered/presented
• समर्पयत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-arpaya (धातु √अर्प् causative/णिजन्त)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; causative (णिजन्त)

• चक्रम्: discus
• चक्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• कृष्णः: Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणरूपेण कर्तृपदस्य

• शङ्खम्: conch
• शङ्खम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṅkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पाशम्: noose
• पाशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• पाशभृत्: the noose-bearer
• पाशभृत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāśa-bhṛt (प्रातिपदिक); √भृ (धातु) as agent-noun
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पाशं बिभर्ति इति)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Krishna

FAQs

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

The verse depicts the empowerment of Śiva-Śakti: the Lord bestows śakti (capacity to protect and uphold dharma) through divine emblems, indicating that liberation and protection arise through the harmonious sovereignty of Pati (Śiva) and Śakti (Umā).

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

These weapons are saguna symbols of the Lord’s protecting grace; in Linga worship, devotees approach Śiva as the supreme Pati whose manifest powers remove obstacles and sever bondage (pāśa), leading the pashu (bound soul) toward Śiva’s feet.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as Pati who cuts pāśa (bondage) with the śūla, while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”; offer bilva leaves with the intent of surrendering inner bonds (attachments) into Śiva’s grace.