Shloka 5

Vṛṣeśākhya-Śivāvatāra and the Initiation of the Kṣīrasāgara-Manthana

Churning of the Milk Ocean

Devanagari script

तदा नभोगता वाणी मेघगम्भीरनिस्वना । उवाच देवान्दैत्यांश्च श्वासयन्तीश्वराज्ञया

Transliteration

tadā nabhogatā vāṇī meghagambhīranisvanā | uvāca devāndaityāṃśca śvāsayantīśvarājñayā

Translation

Bấy giờ, một tiếng nói vang giữa hư không, trầm hùng như tiếng sấm trong mây, cất lời với chư Thiên và các Daitya, khiến họ an định và lắng dịu theo mệnh lệnh của Đấng Tối Thượng (Īśvara).

Word by Word

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• नभः-गता: gone into the sky / sky-borne
• नभः-गता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नभस् (प्रातिपदिक) + गत (कृदन्त, गम्-धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participle) ‘गता’; विशेषण

• वाणी: a voice
• वाणी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मेघ-गम्भीर-निस्वना: having a sound deep like thunderclouds
• मेघ-गम्भीर-निस्वना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेघ (प्रातिपदिक) + गम्भीर (प्रातिपदिक) + निस्वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying वाणी)

• उवाच: said/spoke
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• देवान्: the gods
• देवान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन

• दैत्यान्: the demons (Daityas)
• दैत्यान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• श्वासयन्ती: causing to breathe/comforting, reassuring
• श्वासयन्ती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्वासय् (धातु, causative of श्वस्)
• Form: वर्तमाने कृदन्त (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (वाणी)

• ईश्वर-आज्ञया: by the command of the Lord
• ईश्वर-आज्ञया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक) + आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

A divine disembodied voice (ākāśavāṇī) speaking under Lord Shiva (Īśvara)'s command

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Divine intervention via ākāśavāṇī under Īśvara’s command

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas
• Daityas

FAQs

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

It highlights Īśvara (Shiva) as the supreme governor (Pati) whose command can pacify even cosmic hostility; spiritually, it points to surrender to Shiva’s will as the source of steadiness and fearlessness.

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

The thunder-like sky-voice reflects Saguna Shiva’s accessible governance in the world—his grace and command manifest to protect dharma; Linga-worship similarly trains the devotee to recognize Shiva’s living presence guiding and restraining the mind.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with breath-settling attention (prāṇa-śamana), seeking Shiva’s ājñā for inner calm—optionally supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha as Shaiva aids.