Shloka 14

Svagati-varṇana

Description of the Supreme State / One’s True Attainment

Devanagari script

त्रिभिरंशैश्शोभमानमजस्रसुखमव्ययम् । एकपादं महादंष्ट्रं सज्वालकवलैर्मुखैः

Transliteration

tribhiraṃśaiśśobhamānamajasrasukhamavyayam | ekapādaṃ mahādaṃṣṭraṃ sajvālakavalairmukhaiḥ

Translation

Er erblickte eine wunderbare Gestalt—strahlend in dreifacher Ausprägung, unablässig selig und unvergänglich—einfüßig, mit gewaltigen Fangzähnen und mit Gesichtern, die wie verschlingend flammende Feuerballen erschienen.

Word by Word

• त्रिभिः: with three
• त्रिभिः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषणम् (अंशैः इत्यस्य)

• अंशैः: parts/portions
• अंशैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• शोभमानम्: shining/being splendid
• शोभमानम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुभ्/शोभ् (धातु) + शानच् (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्तः—शानच् (वर्तमानकाले वर्तमानकृदन्त/Present participle, आत्मनेपदी); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (…अव्ययम् इत्यस्य)

• अजस्र-सुखम्: unceasingly blissful
• अजस्र-सुखम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अजस्र (प्रातिपदिक) + सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (अजस्रं सुखं) विशेषणम्

• अव्ययम्: imperishable
• अव्ययम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (वस्तु/रूपं प्रति)

• एक-पादम्: one-footed
• एक-पादम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः; विशेषणम्

• महा-दंष्ट्रम्: having great fangs
• महा-दंष्ट्रम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + दंष्ट्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महती दंष्ट्रा यस्य) विशेषणम्

• स-ज्वाल-कवलैः: with mouthfuls of flame
• स-ज्वाल-कवलैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/सह-अर्थक) + ज्वाला (प्रातिपदिक) + कवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; समासः—सह-तत्पुरुषः (ज्वालाकवलैः सह/युक्तैः); विशेषणम् (मुखैः इत्यस्य)

• मुखैः: with mouths/faces
• मुखैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse functions as a theophany-description of a terrifying, supra-cosmic Śiva-form perceived in narrative context.

Significance: Darśana of the ugra-form is framed as dismantling fear and ego, preparing the paśu for Śiva’s anugraha through recognition of His transcendence.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse portrays Shiva as simultaneously awe-inspiring and supremely auspicious—an imperishable reality whose very nature is unceasing bliss, yet who can appear in formidable cosmic forms to dissolve impurity and ignorance.

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

Such descriptions support Saguna-upasana—contemplating Shiva with attributes for devotion and meditation—while pointing beyond the image to the imperishable essence the Linga signifies: the deathless Pati (Lord) who transcends change.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as avyaya (imperishable) while mentally offering fear and ego into his ‘flame-like’ transformative power; accompany this with japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to stabilize devotion and inner purity.