Shloka 44

Vṛṣeśākhya-Śivāvatāra and the Initiation of the Kṣīrasāgara-Manthana

Churning of the Milk Ocean

Devanagari script

अनुवव्राज तान्विष्णुश्चक्रपाणिर्महाबलः । पातालं परमं गत्वा संस्थितान्भीतभीतवत्

Transliteration

anuvavrāja tānviṣṇuścakrapāṇirmahābalaḥ | pātālaṃ paramaṃ gatvā saṃsthitānbhītabhītavat

Translation

Bấy giờ Viṣṇu hùng mạnh, đấng cầm bánh xe, liền truy đuổi chúng. Đến tận Pātāla sâu thẳm, Ngài thấy chúng đứng đó, bị nỗi sợ chồng chất nỗi sợ.

Word by Word

• अनुवव्राज: followed
• अनुवव्राज: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु+व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• चक्रपाणिः: the discus-handed (Viṣṇu)
• चक्रपाणिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र+पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः: 'यस्य पाणौ चक्रम्' (one whose hand holds a discus)

• महाबलः: mighty, of great strength
• महाबलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा+बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: महत् बलम् यस्य/महाबलः

• पातालम्: to Pātāla
• पातालम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाताल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• परमम्: supreme, deepest
• परमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् पातालम् प्रति

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गत्वा (कृदन्त, त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): 'having gone'

• संस्थितान्: standing/remaining (there)
• संस्थितान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्+स्था (धातु) → संस्थित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; तान् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• भीत-भीतवत्: like (people) very frightened
• भीत-भीतवत्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भीत (कृदन्त) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: उपमान-अव्यय (adverbial): 'like the frightened'; अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोगः (in -वत्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how fear drives beings to the lowest realms, while even great divine power can only pursue externally; in Shaiva Siddhanta, true fearlessness arises from taking refuge in Pati (Shiva), the Lord beyond all lokas.

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

The episode underscores that worldly flight and pursuit do not resolve inner dread; Linga-worship directs the mind to Shiva as the stable, all-pervading refuge (Saguna for devotion, leading toward Nirguna realization), where fear is pacified.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to steady the mind with Panchakshara japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and remembrance of Shiva as protector; this is traditionally supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa for cultivating fearlessness and clarity.