Shloka 49

शिवस्य पञ्चब्रह्मावतारवर्णनम्

Description of Shiva’s Pañcabrahma Avatāras

Devanagari script

इमे स्वरूपाः शंभोर्हि वन्दनीयाः प्रयत्नतः । श्रेयोर्थिभिर्नरैर्नित्यं श्रेयसामेकहेतवः

Transliteration

ime svarūpāḥ śaṃbhorhi vandanīyāḥ prayatnataḥ | śreyorthibhirnarairnityaṃ śreyasāmekahetavaḥ

Translation

حقًّا إنّ هذه التجليات لشَمبهو ينبغي أن تُوقَّر وتُعبَد بجهدٍ صادق؛ فلمن يطلب الخير الأسمى هي دائمًا العلّة الواحدة التي تقود إلى كلّ البشائر الحقيقية.

Word by Word

• इमे: these
• इमे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), बहुवचनम्; सर्वनाम-विशेषणम्

• स्वरूपाः: forms/natures
• स्वरूपाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svarūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• शंभोः: of Śambhu (Śiva)
• शंभोः: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śambhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive/6th), एकवचनम्

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (particle), अव्ययम्; अर्थे—खलु/नूनम् (indeed)

• वन्दनीयाः: worthy to be worshipped
• वन्दनीयाः: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vand (धातु) + anīya (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषणम् (gerundive/future passive participle); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; अर्थः—‘वन्दितव्याः’

• प्रयत्नतः: with effort
• प्रयत्नतः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prayatna (प्रातिपदिक) + tas (तसिल्)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययम् (ablatival adverb); अर्थः—प्रयत्नेन (with effort)

• श्रेयः: the good/supreme good
• श्रेयः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śreyas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्; समासे पूर्वपदम्

• अर्थिभिः: by seekers (desirers)
• अर्थिभिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arthin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचनम्; ‘श्रेयः-अर्थिन्’ इति समासार्थः (those who seek the good)

• नरैः: by men
• नरैः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावे/क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; अर्थः—सदा (always)

• श्रेयसाम्: of (all) goods/benefits
• श्रेयसाम्: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śreyas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive/6th), बहुवचनम्

• एकहेतवः: the single cause
• एकहेतवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + hetu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-तत्पुरुषसमासः (single-cause); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Affirms that reverent worship of Śiva’s manifested forms is the direct means to śreyas (ultimate good), i.e., purification of pāśa and reception of anugraha leading toward liberation.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that sincere reverence to Śiva’s manifested forms (svarūpas) is a direct means to śreyas—spiritual good culminating in liberation—because Śiva as Pati is the ultimate source of auspiciousness.

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

By affirming that Śambhu’s forms are to be venerated, it supports Saguna-upāsanā—worship of Shiva with attributes—such as honoring the Śiva-liṅga and other sacred manifestations as effective supports leading the devotee toward the highest good.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse implies steady daily vandanā (salutation and worship) done with prayatna—practical forms include Shiva-pūjā to the liṅga with mantra-japa (especially the Panchākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and disciplined devotional remembrance aimed at śreyas.