Shloka 14

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

Devanagari script

अथागतस्तदा राहुस्तुष्टाव सुप्रणम्य तम् । शंकरं सकलाधीशं वाग्भिरिष्टाभिरादरात्

Transliteration

athāgatastadā rāhustuṣṭāva supraṇamya tam | śaṃkaraṃ sakalādhīśaṃ vāgbhiriṣṭābhirādarāt

Translation

Rồi Rahu đến, cúi lạy thật sâu và tán thán Śaṅkara—Đấng Chúa tể của muôn loài—bằng những lời được chọn lựa, dâng lên với lòng kính ngưỡng sùng mộ.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/now)

• आगतः: having come
• आगतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; कर्तरि-प्रयोगे (having come)

• तदा: at that time
• तदा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (at that time)

• राहुः: Rāhu
• राहुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• तुष्टाव: praised
• तुष्टाव: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• सुप्रणम्य: having bowed well
• सुप्रणम्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सु-प्र-नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; पूर्वक्रिया

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• शंकरम्: Śaṅkara
• शंकरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; तम् इत्यस्य अप्पोजिशन्

• सकलाधीशम्: lord of all
• सकलाधीशम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकल-अधीश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सकलस्य अधीशः)

• वाग्भिः: with words/speech
• वाग्भिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन

• इष्टाभिः: desired, pleasing
• इष्टाभिः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (वाग्भिः)

• आदरात्: out of respect
• आदरात्: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th case), एकवचन; हेतौ/कारणे (ablative of cause)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Even hostile or ambivalent beings (like Rāhu in graha-myths) approach Śiva as the universal sovereign; Śiva’s lordship transcends moral binaries, granting order through grace and restraint.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Graha-deity (Rāhu) enters the divine court; celestial hierarchy acknowledged under Śiva’s sovereignty.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shankara
• Rahu

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the Shaiva path of śaraṇāgati (surrender): even a powerful graha-being like Rahu approaches Shiva with humility, showing that Shiva, as Pati (the supreme Lord), responds to reverent devotion rather than status.

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

It models Saguna-upāsanā—approaching Shiva as Shankara, the beneficent, personal Lord—through namaskāra and stuti (praise). Such praise is a primary limb of Linga-centered worship in Purāṇic Shaivism.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to begin Shiva-pūjā with praṇāma and stotra: mentally bow, then recite a Shiva hymn (or the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with ādarā (reverence), cultivating humility before seeking boons or relief.