Shloka 12

पिप्पलादावतारकथनम्

Account of the Pippalāda Avatāra

Devanagari script

स्वानि स्वानि वरास्त्रा णि दधीचस्याश्रमेऽखिलाः । निक्षिप्य सहसा सद्योऽभवन्देवाः पराजिताः

Transliteration

svāni svāni varāstrā ṇi dadhīcasyāśrame'khilāḥ | nikṣipya sahasā sadyo'bhavandevāḥ parājitāḥ

Translation

เหล่าเทพทั้งสิ้นวางอาวุธทิพย์อันประเสริฐของตนไว้ ณ อาศรมของทธีจิ แล้วในทันใดนั้นเองก็พ่ายแพ้โดยฉับพลัน

Word by Word

• स्वानि: their own
• स्वानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘अस्त्राणि’)

• स्वानि: their own (each one’s)
• स्वानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; पुनरुक्ति (emphatic repetition)

• वरास्त्राणि: excellent weapons
• वरास्त्राणि: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर + अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘वराणि अस्त्राणि’ (excellent weapons)

• दधीचस्य: of Dadhīca
• दधीचस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दधीच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• आश्रमे: in the hermitage
• आश्रमे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• अखिलाः: all (of them)
• अखिलाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (implied ‘देवाः’)

• निक्षिप्य: having deposited/left
• निक्षिप्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नि + क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• सहसा: suddenly/hastily
• सहसा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहसा (अव्यय)
• Form: रीतिवाचक-अव्यय (manner adverb)

• सद्यः: immediately
• सद्यः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सद्यः (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (immediately)

• अभवन्: became/were
• अभवन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• पराजिताः: defeated
• पराजिताः: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-सम्बन्ध/Predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि + जि (धातु) (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP) ‘पराजित’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्तृपद-विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: The abandonment of ‘excellent weapons’ underscores the insufficiency of merely external means; pilgrimage and ritual power are fruitful when aligned with Śiva-bhakti and surrender, not when treated as autonomous force.

Characters & Entities

• Dadhichi
• Devas

FAQs

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

It highlights that mere power, status, or even divine weapons cannot secure victory when dharma and inner alignment are lost; true refuge is in surrender to Pati (Lord Shiva) and the strength born of tapas and right intention.

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

By showing the limits of external force, the verse points toward Saguna Shiva as the accessible divine refuge—worship of the Linga cultivates humility, devotion, and inner steadiness that surpasses reliance on weapons or worldly means.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to replace reliance on external “aids” with japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined worship (bhasma/Tripuṇḍra and Rudrāksha if initiated), cultivating surrender and clarity before action.