Shloka 45

एकोनविंशतिशिवावतारवर्णनम्

Description of the Nineteen Manifestations/Avatāras of Śiva

Devanagari script

तदाप्यहं भविष्यामि योगात्मा योगमायया । लोकविस्मापनार्थाय ब्रह्मचारिशरीरकः

Transliteration

tadāpyahaṃ bhaviṣyāmi yogātmā yogamāyayā | lokavismāpanārthāya brahmacāriśarīrakaḥ

Translation

„Selbst dann werde Ich durch Meine Yogamāyā als das Selbst des Yoga erscheinen, den Leib eines Brahmacārin (zölibatären Asketen) annehmen, um die Welten zu verwirren (und Meine wahre göttliche Absicht zu verhüllen).“

Word by Word

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: also/even)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• भविष्यामि: will be
• भविष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन

• योगात्मा: one whose essence is yoga
• योगात्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (whose self is yoga / having yoga as essence)

• योगमायया: by yogic māyā
• योगमायया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग + माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (yogic māyā)

• लोकविस्मापनार्थाय: for the purpose of astounding the world
• लोकविस्मापनार्थाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक + विस्मापन + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (for the purpose of causing the world to be astonished)

• ब्रह्मचारिशरीरकः: having the form of a brahmacārin
• ब्रह्मचारिशरीरकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मचारी + शरीरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (having a brahmacārin body/form)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Tirodhāna via Yogamāyā: deliberate concealment to regulate adhikāra and karmic unfolding

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva, though transcendent, freely assumes a Saguna form through Yogamāyā to guide beings—sometimes by veiling His identity—so the world learns discernment, humility, and the deeper truth of Yoga leading toward liberation.

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

The verse supports Saguna worship: Shiva can be approached through revealed forms (including ascetic forms like a brahmacārin), while the Linga remains the timeless sign of His Nirguna reality. Both point to the same Pati (Lord) who reveals and conceals by His power.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points toward yogic sādhana—steady meditation on Shiva as the inner Self (yogātmā)—supported by Shaiva disciplines such as japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and cultivating brahmacarya (sense-restraint) as a foundation for inner clarity.