Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

ततः प्रसन्नो भगवाच्छङ्करो भक्तवत्सलः । पपौ विषं महाघोरं सुरासुरगणार्दनम्

Transliteration

tataḥ prasanno bhagavācchaṅkaro bhaktavatsalaḥ | papau viṣaṃ mahāghoraṃ surāsuragaṇārdanam

Translation

मग भक्तवत्सल भगवान शंकर प्रसन्न झाले आणि देव-असुरगणांना पीडा देणारे ते अत्यंत भयंकर विष त्यांनी प्राशन केले।

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (then/thereupon)

• प्रसन्नः: pleased
• प्रसन्नः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prasanna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• शङ्करः: Śaṅkara
• शङ्करः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṅkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; भगवतः अप्पोजिशन

• भक्तवत्सलः: devotee-loving
• भक्तवत्सलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhakta (प्रातिपदिक) + vatsala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः—‘भक्तेषु वत्सलः’ (affectionate to devotees)

• पपौ: drank
• पपौ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pā (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परिपूर्णभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्; धातुः √पा (पाने)

• विषम्: poison
• विषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (कर्म), एकवचनम्

• महाघोरम्: very dreadful
• महाघोरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + ghora (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः—‘महच्च तत् घोरं च’ (very terrible)

• सुरासुरगणार्दनम्: destroying the hosts of gods and demons
• सुरासुरगणार्दनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक) + asura (प्रातिपदिक) + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ardana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः—‘सुरासुरगणानाम् अर्दनम्’ (that which torments/destroys the hosts of gods and demons)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Nīlakaṇṭha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: In the samudra-manthana, the hālāhala poison arose first and threatened all beings; Śiva, moved by compassion for devotees and the worlds, consumed it, holding it in his throat, becoming Nīlakaṇṭha.

Significance: Meditation on Nīlakaṇṭha grants protection from विष-भय (poison/fear), alleviates inner ‘toxins’ (mala) through Śiva’s grace, and strengthens śaraṇāgati.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: World-threatening hālāhala is neutralized by Śiva’s salvific act.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shankara
• Devas
• Asuras

FAQs

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

It shows Śiva as the compassionate Pati (Lord) who, out of grace toward beings, absorbs what is unbearable—teaching that divine compassion transforms विष (poison) into a means of protection and upliftment for the world.

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

The act of drinking poison is a Saguna līlā (divine deed) revealing Śiva’s protective power; Linga worship remembers this grace—approaching the formless Supreme through a tangible emblem of His saving presence (Śaṅkara/Neelakaṇṭha).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is bhakti-based japa of the Panchākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with the contemplation that Śiva purifies inner विष (anger, jealousy, fear); optionally accompanied by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as Shaiva supports for steady remembrance.