Shloka 40

अवंतीस्थ-ब्राह्मणकथा तथा तृतीय-ज्योतिर्लिङ्गोपाख्यान-प्रस्तावना

Avanti Brahmin Narrative and Prelude to the Third Jyotirliṅga

Devanagari script

कियत्सैन्यं हतं तेन किंचित्सैन्यं पलायितम् । दूषणश्च हतस्तेन शिवेनेह परात्मना

Transliteration

kiyatsainyaṃ hataṃ tena kiṃcitsainyaṃ palāyitam | dūṣaṇaśca hatastena śiveneha parātmanā

Translation

അവനാൽ സൈന്യത്തിന്റെ വലിയൊരു ഭാഗം വധിക്കപ്പെട്ടു; അല്പം സൈന്യം മാത്രം ഓടി രക്ഷപ്പെട്ടു. അവിടെയേ പരമാത്മസ്വരൂപനായ ആ ശിവൻ ദൂഷണനെയും വധിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• kiyat-sainyam: how much of the army
• kiyat-sainyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kiyat (प्रातिपदिक) + sainya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); ‘कियत्’ (how much) विशेषणम्

• hatam: killed/slain
• hatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hata (हत) < √han (हन् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; sainyam इति विशेषणम्

• tena: by him
• tena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• kiṃcit-sainyam: some (part of) the army
• kiṃcit-sainyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kiṃcit (अव्यय/सर्वनाम-निपात) + sainya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; ‘किंचित्’ (some) विशेषणवत्

• palāyitam: fled/escaped
• palāyitam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: palāyita (पलायित) < √palāy (पलाय् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; sainyam इति विशेषणम्

• dūṣaṇaḥ: Dūṣaṇa (name)
• dūṣaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dūṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• hataḥ: was slain
• hataḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hata (हत) < √han (हन् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; dūṣaṇaḥ इति विशेषणम्

• tena: by him
• tena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• śivena: by Śiva
• śivena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• iha: here
• iha: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: देश-अव्यय (adverb of place: here)

• para-ātmanā: by the Supreme Self
• para-ātmanā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (आत्मन् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; ‘परात्मन्’ = परम आत्मा (Supreme Self)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahākāla

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Mahākāleśvara

Sthala Purana: Śiva manifests as Mahākāla (Lord of Time) to destroy the adharmic aggressor (Dūṣaṇa) and protect the brāhmaṇas; the episode functions as a local theophany explaining Mahākāla’s protective sovereignty.

Significance: Darśana of Mahākāla is held to cut fear of death/time, remove grave sins, and grant protection; especially potent for pradoṣa and Mahāśivarātri worship.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Dushana

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Śiva as Parātman (the Supreme Self) who intervenes to remove adharma: the destruction of hostile forces symbolizes the soul’s obstacles being cut down by divine grace, leading toward protection and liberation.

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

It presents the Nirguna truth (Śiva as Parātman) acting through a Saguna manifestation “here,” a key Shaiva Purana theme: devotees worship the accessible form (often via the Liṅga) while recognizing the same Śiva as the highest reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to take refuge in Śiva through japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and remembrance of Śiva as the inner Parātman, especially during times of fear or inner conflict.