Shloka 22

Vṛṣeśākhya-Śivāvatāra and the Initiation of the Kṣīrasāgara-Manthana

Churning of the Milk Ocean

Devanagari script

इति श्रीशिवमहापुराणे तृतीयायां शतरुद्रसंहितायां विष्णूपद्रववृषावतारवर्णनं नाम द्वाविंशोऽध्यायः

Transliteration

iti śrīśivamahāpurāṇe tṛtīyāyāṃ śatarudrasaṃhitāyāṃ viṣṇūpadravavṛṣāvatāravarṇanaṃ nāma dvāviṃśo'dhyāyaḥ

Translation

इति श्रीशिवमहापुराणे तृतीयायां शतरुद्रसंहितायां विष्णूपद्रववृषावतारवर्णनं नाम द्वाविंशोऽध्यायः समाप्तः।

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Vākyānta (वाक्यान्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्यसमाप्तिसूचक (quotative/end marker)

• श्रीशिवमहापुराणे: in the Śrī Śiva Mahāpurāṇa
• श्रीशिवमहापुराणे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री-शिव-महा-पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन (sg.); समासः—कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-समुच्चय (श्रीशिवस्य महापुराणम्)

• तृतीयायाम्: in the third
• तृतीयायाम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृतीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक-विशेषणम्

• शतरुद्रसंहितायाम्: in the Śatarudra-saṃhitā
• शतरुद्रसंहितायाम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत-रुद्र-संहिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (शतानां रुद्राणां संहिता)

• विष्णूपद्रववृषावतारवर्णनम्: the description of Viṣṇu’s affliction and the bull-incarnation
• विष्णूपद्रववृषावतारवर्णनम्: Viṣaya (विषय/नामधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु-उपद्रव-वृष-अवतार-वर्णन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन; शीर्षक-रूपे प्रथमा; समासः—तत्पुरुष-श्रृङ्खला (विष्णोः उपद्रवः; वृषावतारः; तस्य वर्णनम्)

• नाम: named
• नाम: Nāmadheya (नामधेय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: अव्यय; नामधेय-निर्देशक (particle meaning ‘called/namely’)

• द्वाविंशः: twenty-second
• द्वाविंशः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वा-विṃश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (द्वौ च विंशतिः = 22)

• अध्यायः: chapter
• अध्यायः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

This is a colophon marking the completion of a chapter, highlighting that Shiva, as Pati (the Supreme Lord), manifests forms to restore dharma and dissolve disturbances that arise even among the gods—affirming Shiva’s sovereign grace and governance of cosmic order.

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

By naming the “Bull-Incarnation,” the text emphasizes Saguna Shiva—Shiva approachable through form and līlā—supporting devotional worship (bhakti) alongside the deeper recognition of Shiva as the transcendent Nirguna reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

As a chapter-end marker, it does not prescribe a specific rite; a fitting Shaiva takeaway is to conclude recitation with Panchākṣarī japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and a brief contemplation of Shiva as the protector who removes upadrava (inner and outer disturbances).