Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

तत्र गत्वा सुरास्सर्वे नत्वा शंकरकेशवौ । स्ववृत्तं कथायामासुर्यथावदनुपूर्वशः

Transliteration

tatra gatvā surāssarve natvā śaṃkarakeśavau | svavṛttaṃ kathāyāmāsuryathāvadanupūrvaśaḥ

Translation

Al llegar allí, todos los dioses se postraron ante Śaṅkara (Śiva) y Keśava (Viṣṇu). Luego, en el debido orden y tal como sucedió, les narraron por completo lo acontecido.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गम् (धातु) + क्त्वा (अव्यय-भाव)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाल; from √गम् (to go)

• सुराः: the gods
• सुराः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण of सुराः

• नत्वा: having bowed to
• नत्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √नम् (धातु) + क्त्वा (अव्यय-भाव)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाल; from √नम् (to bow)

• शंकरकेशवौ: Śaṅkara and Keśava
• शंकरकेशवौ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक) + केशव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: शंकरः च केशवः च

• स्ववृत्तम्: their own account (what happened)
• स्ववृत्तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + वृत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: स्वस्य वृत्तम् (their own account/occurrence)

• कथायामासुः: they narrated
• कथायामासुः: Kriya (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कथ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• यथावत्: properly, as it was
• यथावत्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: properly/accurately)

• अनुपूर्वशः: in sequence
• अनुपूर्वशः: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनुपूर्वशः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: in due order/sequence)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya, inferred from Purana narrative frame)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Devas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) through humility: the Devas first bow to Śiva and Viṣṇu, then present the truth in orderly speech—showing that grace arises where ego is dropped and dharmic clarity is upheld.

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

By bowing to Śaṅkara, the Devas approach Saguna Śiva as the accessible Lord (Pati) who responds to devotees’ petitions; this is the same devotional posture cultivated before the Liṅga—reverence first, then heartfelt disclosure.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to begin worship with namaskāra and mental surrender, then offer a truthful, step-by-step confession/prayer; this aligns well with japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and a calm, ordered remembrance (smaraṇa) during pūjā.