Shloka 31

शिवस्य पञ्चब्रह्मावतारवर्णनम्

Description of Shiva’s Pañcabrahma Avatāras

Devanagari script

अथान्यो ब्रह्मणः कल्पः प्रावर्त्तत मुनीश्वराः । विश्वरूप इति ख्यातो नामतः परमाद्भुतः

Transliteration

athānyo brahmaṇaḥ kalpaḥ prāvarttata munīśvarāḥ | viśvarūpa iti khyāto nāmataḥ paramādbhutaḥ

Translation

ثمّ، يا سادةَ الحكماء، ابتدأت دورةٌ أخرى من خَلْقِ براهما—مشهودٌ لها بالعجب، مشهورةٌ باسم «فيشفاروبا»، أي «ذو جميع الصور»، عجيبةٌ حتى في تسميتها.

Word by Word

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्ध/अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/now)

• anyaḥ: another
• anyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण of kalpaḥ

• brahmaṇaḥ: of Brahmā/Brahman
• brahmaṇaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• kalpaḥ: aeon, cycle (kalpa)
• kalpaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• prāvarttata: began, commenced
• prāvarttata: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√vṛt (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• munīśvarāḥ: O lords of sages
• munīśvarāḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (munīnām īśvarāḥ), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; संबोधनार्थे (vocative sense)

• viśvarūpaḥ: Viśvarūpa (all-formed)
• viśvarūpaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (viśvaṃ rūpaṃ yasya/viśvarūpa), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• iti: thus, as
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: इति-प्रयोग (quotative particle)

• khyātaḥ: was known/called
• khyātaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √khyā (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• nāmataḥ: by name
• nāmataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāman + tas (प्रातिपदिक + तसिल्)
• Form: तसिलन्त-अव्यय (ablatival adverb) = 'by name/in name'

• parama-adbhutaḥ: supremely wonderful
• parama-adbhutaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + adbhuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण of (kalpaḥ/viśvarūpaḥ)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: kalpa-ārambha (commencement of a new Brahmā-kalpa named Viśvarūpa)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

It frames creation as cyclical (kalpa), reminding the seeker that worldly manifestation is wondrous yet impermanent; in Shaiva understanding, liberation comes by turning from changing cycles to the eternal Lord (Pati), Shiva.

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

By presenting a named cosmic cycle (Viśvarūpa), it prepares the narrative ground for Shiva’s many forms within creation; Linga-worship centers devotion on the timeless Shiva who pervades and transcends these changing kalpas.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate the transient nature of kalpas while repeating the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), using Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) or Rudrākṣa as aids to steady remembrance of Shiva beyond all forms.