Shloka 29

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

Devanagari script

तत्रासन् विफलान्याशु तान्यस्त्राणि दिवौकसाम् । शिवप्रभावतस्तेषां मूढगर्वापहारिणः

Transliteration

tatrāsan viphalānyāśu tānyastrāṇi divaukasām | śivaprabhāvatasteṣāṃ mūḍhagarvāpahāriṇaḥ

Translation

तत्र दिवौकसामस्त्राण्याशु विफलान्यभवन्। शिवप्रभावतो मूढगर्वापहारिणः।

Word by Word

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (there)

• āsan: were
• āsan: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (अस्) (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; 'were'

• viphalāni: fruitless
• viphalāni: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viphala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (agreeing with astrāṇi)

• āśu: quickly
• āśu: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: āśu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: quickly)

• tāni: those
• tāni: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; demonstrative referring to astrāṇi

• astrāṇi: weapons
• astrāṇi: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: astra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• divaukasām: of the celestials
• divaukasām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: divaukas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, बहुवचन; 'of the dwellers in heaven' (gods)

• śiva-prabhāvataḥ: due to Śiva's power
• śiva-prabhāvataḥ: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + prabhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास ('Śiva's power'); पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; 'due to/from'

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: षष्ठी, बहुवचन; 'of them'

• mūḍha-garva-apahāriṇaḥ: removers of deluded pride
• mūḍha-garva-apahāriṇaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mūḍha (प्रातिपदिक) + garva (प्रातिपदिक) + apahārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय/षष्ठी-भाव: 'removers of foolish pride'); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (qualifying implied agents/Śiva's effects)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that all worldly and even celestial power becomes ineffective before Pati (Śiva); His grace dismantles mūḍha-garva—ego born of ignorance—so the soul turns toward surrender and liberation.

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

The verse highlights Śiva’s sovereign śakti: in Linga-worship and Saguna devotion, the devotee approaches the Lord not as a rival to be overcome, but as the supreme refuge whose presence renders ego-driven efforts powerless.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with humility, offering one’s pride into Śiva through bhakti; applying Tripuṇḍra-bhasma can be taken as a daily reminder of the futility of ego and the supremacy of Śiva.