Shloka 3

पिप्पलादावतारकथनम्

Account of the Pippalāda Avatāra

Devanagari script

क्षुवेण सह संग्रामे येन विष्णुः पराजितः । सनिर्जरोऽथ संशप्तो महेश्वरसहायिना

Transliteration

kṣuveṇa saha saṃgrāme yena viṣṇuḥ parājitaḥ | sanirjaro'tha saṃśapto maheśvarasahāyinā

Translation

Dalam peperangan yang ditempuh bersama Kṣu, olehnya Viṣṇu ditewaskan dalam kekalahan; kemudian, walaupun disertai para dewa abadi, dia tetap ditundukkan dengan pertolongan Maheśvara (Śiva).

Word by Word

• क्षुवेण: with Kṣu (a being named Kṣu)
• क्षुवेण: Sahakāraka/Instrument (करण/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• सह: together with
• सह: Sambandha marker (सम्बन्ध/सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable; preposition-like particle (सह-प्रयोग) governing instrumental

• संग्रामे: in battle
• संग्रामे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• येन: by whom
• येन: Instrument/Agent marker in passive (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karma in passive (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• पराजितः: was defeated
• पराजितः: Predicate to passive subject (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पराजि (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/भूतकर्मणि), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• स: he
• स: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• निर्जरः: a god/immortal
• निर्जरः: Apposition to subject (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्जर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Discourse connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable; discourse particle (अनन्तरार्थक)

• संशप्तः: was cursed
• संशप्तः: Predicate to subject (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शप् (धातु) + सम् (उपसर्ग) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/भूतकर्मणि), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महेश्वरसहायिना: by the ally of Maheśvara
• महेश्वरसहायिना: Instrument/Agent in passive (करण/कर्ता-हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक) + सहायिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: महेश्वरस्य सहायिन् = 'helper/ally of Maheśvara'

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shiva (Maheshvara)
• Devas (Nirjara)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that even great divine powers are ultimately effective only through Maheśvara’s grace—pointing to Śiva as Pati (the Supreme Lord) whose assistance subdues obstacles beyond the reach of mere celestial strength.

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

By naming Maheśvara as the decisive aid, the text reinforces Saguna Śiva as the approachable Lord who intervenes in the world; Linga-worship is presented in the Purana as the stable focus for invoking that protecting and liberating grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is śaraṇāgati (surrender) supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and simple Mahāśivarātri-style worship (bilva offering, bhasma/tripuṇḍra) to seek Maheśvara’s aid.