Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

यमो ददौ कालदण्डमक्षमालां प्रजापतिः । ब्रह्मा कमण्डलुं प्रादाद्रोमरश्मीन्दिवाकरः

Transliteration

yamo dadau kāladaṇḍamakṣamālāṃ prajāpatiḥ | brahmā kamaṇḍaluṃ prādādromaraśmīndivākaraḥ

Translation

Yama bestowed the kāla-daṇḍa, the staff of Time; and Prajāpati gave the akṣa-mālā, the rosary for japa. Brahmā presented the kamaṇḍalu, the water-pot; and Divākara, the Sun, granted radiant beams like strands of hair.

Word by Word

• यमः: Yama
• यमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• कालदण्डम्: the staff of Time (death-staff)
• कालदण्डम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla-daṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कालस्य दण्डः)

• अक्षमालाम्: rosary
• अक्षमालाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: akṣa-mālā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अक्षाणां माला)

• प्रजापतिः: Prajāpati
• प्रजापतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā-pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्रजायाः पतिः)

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (प्रातिपदिक: ब्रह्मन्; रूपम्: ब्रह्मा)

• कमण्डलुम्: water-pot (kamaṇḍalu)
• कमण्डलुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kamaṇḍalu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रादात्: gave
• प्रादात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√दा (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; augment + prefix pra-

• रोमरश्मीन्: rays/strings of hair (sunbeams)
• रोमरश्मीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: roma-raśmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (रोम्णः रश्मयः)

• दिवाकरः: Divākara (Sun)
• दिवाकरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: divā-kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (दिवाः करः = day-maker)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Prajapati
• Brahma
• Surya (Divakara)

FAQs

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

The verse lists sacred endowments from cosmic deities, symbolizing that spiritual attainment in Shaiva tradition is supported by discipline (kāla-daṇḍa), japa (akṣamālā), purity and tapas (kamaṇḍalu), and inner illumination (divākara’s rays).

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

These gifts function as aids for Saguna Shiva worship—mālā for repeating the Panchākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), kamaṇḍalu for ritual purity and ācamana, and the staff for vrata and restraint—supporting steady devotion that culminates in Linga-centered contemplation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice daily japa with a mālā (ideally Rudrākṣa), maintain disciplined conduct (yama-niyama/vrata), and uphold purity with simple ascetic observances—using these supports to stabilize meditation on Shiva and the Panchākṣarī mantra.