Shloka 17

दक्षयज्ञध्वंसः—वीरभद्रप्रेषणं, देवविष्ण्वोः पराजयः, पुनरनुग्रहः

Devanagari script

निहत्य मुष्टिना दन्तान् पूष्णश्चैवं न्यपातयत् तथा चन्द्रमसं देवं पादाङ्गुष्ठेन लीलया

Transliteration

nihatya muṣṭinā dantān pūṣṇaścaivaṃ nyapātayat tathā candramasaṃ devaṃ pādāṅguṣṭhena līlayā

Translation

Dengan penumbuk, Dia menghancurkan gigi Pūṣan lalu menjatuhkannya; dan demikian juga, dengan mudah bagaikan bermain, Tuhan menumbangkan dewa Bulan (Candra) dengan ibu jari kaki-Nya.

Word by Word

• nihatya: having struck down/smashed

• muṣṭinā: with the fist

• dantān: teeth

• pūṣṇaḥ: of Pūṣan (the deity Pūṣan)

• ca: and

• evaṁ: thus/in this manner

• nyapātayat: caused to fall, felled

• tathā: likewise

• candramasam: the Moon (Candra)

• devam: the god/deity

• pādāṅguṣṭhena: with the big toe of the foot

• līlayā: playfully, as a sport (with effortless mastery)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purāṇic episode to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Pūṣan
• Candra (Moon-god)

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It reinforces Shiva as Pati—the supreme Lord beyond all devas—so Linga worship is presented as surrender to the highest reality that humbles pride and restores dharma.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Shiva-tattva is shown as effortless, sovereign power: even cosmic deities are subdued “as play,” indicating His transcendence over limited authorities and His freedom (svātantrya) as Pati.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The implied Pāśupata discipline is humility and ego-restraint (darpa-kṣaya): the pashu (bound soul) approaches the Pati through devotion and self-control rather than pride in power or status.