Shloka 18

शिवस्य पञ्चब्रह्मावतारवर्णनम्

Description of Shiva’s Pañcabrahma Avatāras

Devanagari script

ध्यायतः पुत्रकामस्य विधेर्जातः कुमारकः । पीतवस्त्रादिक प्रौढो महातेजा महाभुजः

Transliteration

dhyāyataḥ putrakāmasya vidherjātaḥ kumārakaḥ | pītavastrādika prauḍho mahātejā mahābhujaḥ

Translation

Als Vidhātr̥ (Brahmā), nach einem Sohn verlangend, in tiefer Meditation verweilte, wurde aus ihm ein Knabe geboren—jung an Jahren, doch von reifer Erscheinung, geschmückt mit gelben Gewändern und Zierat, von großer Ausstrahlung und mächtigen Armen.

Word by Word

• ध्यायतः: of (him) meditating
• ध्यायतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ध्यै (धातु) → ध्यायत् (शतृ/वर्तमानकृदन्त)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त; ‘विधेः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्: of Vidhā (Brahmā) who was meditating

• पुत्र-कामस्य: of (him) desiring a son
• पुत्र-कामस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: पुत्रं कामयते इति/पुत्रकामः = desiring a son; ‘विधेः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• विधेः: of Vidhā (Brahmā)
• विधेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; ब्रह्मणः नाम

• जातः: was born
• जातः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जन् (धातु) → जात (कृदन्त; क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तरि-भावे: born/produced

• कुमारकः: a young boy/child
• कुमारकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• पीत-वस्त्र-आदिकः: having yellow garments and the like
• पीत-वस्त्र-आदिकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीत (कृदन्त; √पा, क्त) + वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + क (तद्धित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: पीतानि वस्त्राणि आदीनि यस्य सः/यस्य लक्षणम् = having yellow garments etc.; ‘कुमारकः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• प्रौढः: mature/fully developed
• प्रौढः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रौढ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• महा-तेजाः: of great splendor
• महा-तेजाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास; ‘तेजस्’-शब्दः अकारान्त-विशेषरूप (nom. sg. तेजाः)

• महा-भुजः: great-armed
• महा-भुजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Tatpuruṣa

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Highlights that even Brahmā’s progeny/manifestations arise through contemplation and divine governance; encourages dhyāna as a means to align with īśvara’s will.

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Cosmogonic birth/manifestation during a named kalpa; emergence of a radiant kumāra while Brahmā meditates for progeny.

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

It highlights dhyāna (one-pointed meditation) as a creative spiritual power—when directed with intent and purity, it becomes a channel for divine manifestation, reflecting the Purāṇic view that consciousness shaped by devotion can bear sacred results.

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

Though the verse speaks of Brahmā’s meditation, it supports the Shaiva framework where Saguna forms arise for the sake of devotees and cosmic order; similarly, the Liṅga is a worshipable manifestation through which the devotee’s focused contemplation meets Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is steady dhyāna with a clear sankalpa (sacred intention); in Shaiva practice this is commonly supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined purity, even when external rites are minimal.