Shloka 31

पिप्पलादावतारकथनम्

Account of the Pippalāda Avatāra

Devanagari script

ततः शक्रस्सुसन्नद्धस्तेन वज्रेण स द्रुतम् । उच्चकर्त शिरो वार्त्रं गिरिशृंगमिवौजसा

Transliteration

tataḥ śakrassusannaddhastena vajreṇa sa drutam | uccakarta śiro vārtraṃ giriśṛṃgamivaujasā

Translation

Bấy giờ Śakra (Indra), trang bị đầy đủ, liền vung Kim Cang ấy thật nhanh; bằng sức mạnh mãnh liệt, Ngài chém đứt đầu Vṛtra, như bổ đôi đỉnh núi.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kāla/Anantara (काल/अनन्तर)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) of sequence/source

• शक्रः: Śakra (Indra)
• शक्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• सु-सन्नद्धः: well-armed / well-prepared
• सु-सन्नद्धः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय) + सन्नद्ध (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: Past participle (क्त) of सम्-नह् 'to arm', Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); avyayībhāva with सु- intensifier

• तेन: with that
• तेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter/Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन); refers to the thunderbolt

• वज्रेण: with the thunderbolt
• वज्रेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• द्रुतम्: quickly
• द्रुतम्: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्रुतम् (अव्यय/नपुंसक-रूप)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) of manner; from द्रुत 'quick'

• उच्चकर्त: cut off / severed
• उच्चकर्त: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-छृद्/कृन्त् (धातु)
• Form: Aorist (लुङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• वार्त्रम्: of Vṛtra (Vṛtra’s)
• वार्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वार्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); apposition to शिरः

• गिरि-शृङ्गम्: a mountain peak
• गिरि-शृङ्गम्: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि (प्रातिपदिक) + शृङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• इव: like
• इव: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle of comparison (उपमावाचक-निपात)

• ओजसा: by strength
• ओजसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ओजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Shakra)
• Vritra

FAQs

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

It depicts the decisive removal of a great obstruction (Vṛtra) when dharma is upheld; in Shaiva perspective, such victory ultimately depends on the higher order of Pati (Śiva) enabling the forces of righteousness to overcome binding powers.

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

The narrative underscores that even mighty gods act effectively when aligned with the Supreme Lord’s governance; worship of Saguna Shiva (as Linga) cultivates surrender and alignment with that divine order, through which obstacles are ‘cut down’ in life.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with bhakti and self-discipline, treating inner pride and inertia as ‘Vṛtra’ to be severed by focused awareness and devotion.