Shloka 30

शिवस्य पञ्चब्रह्मावतारवर्णनम्

Description of Shiva’s Pañcabrahma Avatāras

Devanagari script

एवंभूता महात्मानो ब्रह्मणः सृष्टिहेतवे । योगं प्रवर्त्तया मासुर्घोराख्यं महदद्भुतम्

Transliteration

evaṃbhūtā mahātmāno brahmaṇaḥ sṛṣṭihetave | yogaṃ pravarttayā māsurghorākhyaṃ mahadadbhutam

Translation

So ausgestattet setzten jene großherzigen Wesen—damit Brahmā zur Ursache der Schöpfung werde—ein gewaltiges, furchterregendes Yoga namens „Ghora“ in Gang, groß und wunderbar.

Word by Word

• एवंभूताः: such (in this manner)
• एवंभूताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एवं (अव्यय) + भूत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; अव्ययीभाव-समासः (‘एवं’ + ‘भूत’ = such-formed); विशेषणम्

• महात्मानः: great-souled ones
• महात्मानः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मह (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः; संज्ञा/विशेष्यः

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• सृष्टिहेतवे: for the cause of creation
• सृष्टिहेतवे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Dative purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (‘सृष्टेः हेतु’); प्रयोजनार्थे दत्तिः

• योगम्: yoga/discipline
• योगम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• प्रवर्त्तयामासुः: they set in motion / caused to proceed
• प्रवर्त्तयामासुः: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वृत् (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोगः (causative)

• घोराख्यम्: named ‘Ghora’
• घोराख्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (‘घोरम् आख्यं यस्य’/‘घोर-आख्य’); ‘योगम्’ इति विशेषणम्

• महत्: great
• महत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• अद्भुतम्: marvellous
• अद्भुतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shatarudra Samhita’s account to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: cosmogonic activation: empowerment of Brahmā for sṛṣṭi through a Rudra-ordained yoga

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

It presents creation as arising through divinely empowered yoga: cosmic manifestation is not merely mechanical, but proceeds from a higher, awe-inspiring yogic force that enables Brahmā to function as the creator.

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

By grounding creation in sacred yoga, the verse supports the Shaiva view that Saguna manifestations and worship (including Linga-upāsanā) are effective means to align with Shiva’s ordering power that sustains and manifests the cosmos.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The direct takeaway is disciplined yoga as a sacred means; in Shiva Purana practice this is commonly supported by japa of Shiva-mantras (especially the Panchakshara), along with Shiva-dhyāna, and purity aids like bhasma and rudrāksha where appropriate.