Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

देवा ऊचुः । अभूदत्र महान्देव रणः परमदारुणः । असुरा नाशितास्सर्वेऽवशिष्टा विद्रुता गताः

Transliteration

devā ūcuḥ | abhūdatra mahāndeva raṇaḥ paramadāruṇaḥ | asurā nāśitāssarve'vaśiṣṭā vidrutā gatāḥ

Translation

دیوتاؤں نے کہا—اے مہادیو! یہاں نہایت ہولناک عظیم جنگ ہوئی۔ تمام اسور ہلاک ہو گئے؛ جو باقی بچے وہ خوف سے بھاگ گئے۔

Word by Word

• devāḥ: the gods
• devāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ūcuḥ: said
• ūcuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• abhūt: there was/arose
• abhūt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Aorist (लुङ्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• atra: here/there (in this context)
• atra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb of place (देशवाचक)

• mahān: great
• mahān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with raṇaḥ

• deva: O god (address)
• deva: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन/8), Singular (एकवचन)

• raṇaḥ: battle
• raṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• parama-dāruṇaḥ: extremely dreadful
• parama-dāruṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + dāruṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with raṇaḥ

• asurāḥ: the demons
• asurāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• nāśitāḥ: destroyed
• nāśitāḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: naś (धातु) + ita (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); passive sense 'were destroyed'

• sarve: all
• sarve: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with asurāḥ

• avaśiṣṭāḥ: remaining
• avaśiṣṭāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: avaśiṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक; from √śiṣ with ava-, PPP)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); 'remaining'

• vidrutāḥ: fleeing
• vidrutāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vidruta (प्रातिपदिक; PPP from vi-√dru)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); 'fled away'

• gatāḥ: went/ran off
• gatāḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु) + ta (क्त)
• Form: Past active participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); intransitive predicate 'went'

Speaker

The Devas (gods)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It shows Shiva as Pati—the supreme Lord who restores dharma: when adharma (asuric forces) rises, His manifest (saguṇa) power subdues it, protecting the cosmic order and guiding beings toward peace and liberation.

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

The devas directly address Shiva as the Great God active in the world; this supports saguṇa-upāsanā—devotional worship of Shiva (often through the Śiva-liṅga) as the living protector and refuge who answers prayers and removes fear.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) through japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” accompanied by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and calm remembrance of Shiva as the inner protector during turmoil.