Shloka 9

Vṛṣeśākhya-Śivāvatāra and the Initiation of the Kṣīrasāgara-Manthana

Churning of the Milk Ocean

Devanagari script

सुसन्धायाखिलास्ते वै मन्दरम्पर्वतोत्तमम् । कनकाभं च सरलं नानाशोभार्चितं ययुः

Transliteration

susandhāyākhilāste vai mandaramparvatottamam | kanakābhaṃ ca saralaṃ nānāśobhārcitaṃ yayuḥ

Translation

అందరూ కలిసి దృఢనిశ్చయంతో పర్వతశ్రేష్ఠమైన మందరాన్ని చేరుటకు బయలుదేరారు—అది సూటిగా, సుగఠితంగా, స్వర్ణవర్ణ కాంతితో, నానా శోభలతో అలంకృతమై ఉండెను.

Word by Word

• सु-सन्धाय: having well-arranged/secured
• सु-सन्धाय: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + सन्धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund, तुमुन्-रहित), धातु: सन्धा (to join/arrange), उपसर्ग: सु; अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal form)

• अखिलाः: all (of them)
• अखिलाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण (qualifying)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात-प्रयोगः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphatic)

• मन्दरम्: Mandara (mountain)
• मन्दरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्दर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• पर्वत-उत्तमम्: the best of mountains
• पर्वत-उत्तमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (best mountain)

• कनक-आभम्: golden-hued
• कनक-आभम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कनक (प्रातिपदिक) + आभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (kanakasya ābhā = golden-lustrous)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सरलम्: straight/tall (slender)
• सरलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सरल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• नाना-शोभा-अर्चितम्: adorned with many splendors
• नाना-शोभा-अर्चितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + शोभा (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्चित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (अर्च् धातु, past passive participle); तत्पुरुष-समास (nānāśobhayā arcitam = adorned/worshipped with various splendors)

• ययुः: they went
• ययुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Descriptive travel toward Mandara; no Jyotirliṅga-sthala identification.

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Approach to Mandara—the cosmic ‘axis’ mountain—signals stabilization/organization of the churning enterprise.

Characters & Entities

• Mandara

FAQs

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

It highlights saṅkalpa (firm, united resolve) as the first step of sādhana—when devotees move with one-pointed intention toward a sacred locus, the outer journey mirrors the inner turning toward Pati (Śiva), the bestower of grace.

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

The approach to the radiant, “golden-hued” mountain evokes approaching Saguna Śiva through a visible support (ādhāra)—a sacred place or form—by which devotion becomes steady and fit for deeper realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Make a clear saṅkalpa before worship, then proceed with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while keeping the mind straight (sarala) and focused, as one would on a purposeful pilgrimage.