Shloka 28

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

Devanagari script

अथ सर्वे सुरा विष्णुप्रमुखा वीरमानिनः । कृत्वा स्वपौरुषन्तत्र स्वायुधानि विचिक्षिपुः

Transliteration

atha sarve surā viṣṇupramukhā vīramāninaḥ | kṛtvā svapauruṣantatra svāyudhāni vicikṣipuḥ

Translation

Bấy giờ, tất cả chư Thiên—đứng đầu là Viṣṇu, tự hào về dũng lực—đã phô bày bản lĩnh nơi ấy rồi ném xuống các vũ khí của mình.

Word by Word

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/discourse)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आरम्भ/अनन्तर (then/now)

• sarve: all
• sarve: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (qualifying surāḥ)

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

• viṣṇu-pramukhāḥ: with Viṣṇu at the head
• viṣṇu-pramukhāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + pramukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास ('Viṣṇu as foremost'); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (qualifying surāḥ)

• vīra-māninaḥ: considering themselves heroes
• vīra-māninaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक) + mānin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास ('thinking themselves heroes'); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• kṛtvā: having exerted
• kṛtvā: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/preceding action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ) (धातु) + ktvā (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund); 'having done/made'

• sva-pauruṣam: their own valor
• sva-pauruṣam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + pauruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: 'own valor'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (locative adverb)

• sva-āyudhāni: their weapons
• sva-āyudhāni: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + āyudha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: 'own weapons'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• vicikṣipuḥ: they hurled
• vicikṣipuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṣip (क्षिप्) (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; 'they hurled/cast'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Devas

FAQs

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

It portrays the turning point where pride in personal power gives way to humility; the devas recognize that true refuge is not in force but in surrender to the Supreme Lord (Pati), a key Shaiva Siddhanta emphasis on grace over ego.

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

Casting down weapons symbolizes inner disarmament before Saguna Shiva—the approachable Lord who receives devotion. In Linga-worship, the devotee similarly lays aside aggression and self-assertion, approaching Shiva with reverence and surrender.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt a vow of non-harm and humility during japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and perform Tripuṇḍra-bhasma application as a reminder to drop ego and take refuge in Shiva.