Shloka 3

यक्षेश्वरावतारः (Yakṣeśvara-Avatāra) and the Nīlakaṇṭha Paradigm in the Churning of the Ocean

Devanagari script

मथ्यमानेऽमृते पूर्वं क्षीराब्धेस्सुरदानवैः । अग्नेः समुत्थितं तस्माद्विषं कालानलप्रभम्

Transliteration

mathyamāne'mṛte pūrvaṃ kṣīrābdhessuradānavaiḥ | agneḥ samutthitaṃ tasmādviṣaṃ kālānalaprabham

Translation

デーヴァとダーナヴァがアムリタを求めて乳海を攪拌したとき、甘露が現れるより先に、その攪拌からまず毒が湧き出た—劫末の時火カラーナラのごとく燃え盛る毒であった。

Word by Word

• mathyamāne: while being churned
• mathyamāne: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: manth (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्), सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः; 'मथ्यमाने' = 'when (it was) being churned'

• amṛte: (for) nectar / in the nectar (context)
• amṛte: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• pūrvam: first/beforehand
• pūrvam: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोग (adverbial accusative: first/before)

• kṣīra-abdheḥ: from the ocean of milk
• kṣīra-abdheḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣīra + abdhi (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (क्षीरस्य अब्धिः)

• sura-dānavaiḥ: by the gods and demons
• sura-dānavaiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura + dānava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व (सुराश्च दानवाश्च)

• agneḥ: of/from fire (Agni)
• agneḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• samutthitam: arisen/emerged
• samutthitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ut-√sthā (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'विषम्' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• tasmāt: from that (cause/source)
• tasmāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन

• viṣam: poison
• viṣam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• kāla-anala-prabham: having the radiance of the fire of Time (cosmic conflagration)
• kāla-anala-prabham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāla + anala + prabhā/prabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (कालानलस्य प्रभा यस्य तत्) विशेषणम् (विषम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Kālāntaka

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Poison (hālāhala) arises first; imagery of kālānala (fire of cosmic dissolution).

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Danavas
• Kshira Sagara (Ocean of Milk)
• Amrita
• Halahala (poison)

FAQs

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

It teaches that before the ‘nectar’ of spiritual attainment appears, the churn of karma often brings up toxic afflictions first; in Shaiva Siddhanta, this points to taking refuge in Pati (Shiva), who alone can neutralize the world-poison and grant grace.

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

The narrative sets up Shiva’s compassionate Saguna act as Neelakantha; devotees worship the Linga remembering Shiva as the protector who bears the unbearable for the cosmos, transforming danger into auspiciousness through divine power.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Remember Shiva as the remover of inner poison (anger, pride, delusion) by japa of the Panchakshara—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and, where customary, wearing Rudraksha and applying Tripundra (bhasma) as signs of surrender and purification.