Shloka 55

Vṛṣeśākhya-Śivāvatāra and the Initiation of the Kṣīrasāgara-Manthana

Churning of the Milk Ocean

Devanagari script

ततस्स भगवाञ्छम्भुः कृपासिंधुर्महेश्वरः । तदुपद्रवमाज्ञाय वृषरूपो बभूव ह

Transliteration

tatassa bhagavāñchambhuḥ kṛpāsiṃdhurmaheśvaraḥ | tadupadravamājñāya vṛṣarūpo babhūva ha

Translation

于是，慈悲如海的薄伽梵商婆——大自在天（摩诃伊湿伐罗）——洞悉那场灾厄，便真实化现为公牛之形（Vṛṣa），以护持并扶立正法。

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: then/from there)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शम्भुः: Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कृपा-सिन्धुः: ocean of mercy
• कृपा-सिन्धुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृपा (प्रातिपदिक) + सिन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ocean of compassion)

• महेश्वरः: Mahēśvara
• महेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (great lord)

• तद्-उपद्रवम्: that disturbance/calamity
• तद्-उपद्रवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + उपद्रव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (that calamity)

• आज्ञाय: having known
• आज्ञाय: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• वृष-रूपः: bull-formed
• वृष-रूपः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृष (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (having the form of a bull)

• बभूव: became
• बभूव: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ह: indeed
• ह: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shambhu
• Maheshvara

FAQs

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

It presents Śiva as Pati (the supreme Lord) whose compassion actively intervenes in worldly disorder; by taking a tangible form, he restores dharma and guides beings toward safety and spiritual order.

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

While the Liṅga points to Śiva’s transcendence, this verse highlights Saguna Śiva—his gracious, assumable forms taken for protection. Devotion to the Liṅga is thus complemented by faith in Śiva’s responsive grace within history.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dharma-centered japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a protective bhāva, optionally wearing Rudrākṣa and applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as reminders of Śiva’s guardianship and compassion.