Shloka 25

हंस-वराह-रूपग्रहण-कारणम्

The Reason for Assuming the Swan and Boar Forms

Devanagari script

ततस्संशयमापन्नस्तपस्तेपे सुदारुणम् । द्वादशाब्दमहं तत्र विष्णुध्यानपरायणः

Transliteration

tatassaṃśayamāpannastapastepe sudāruṇam | dvādaśābdamahaṃ tatra viṣṇudhyānaparāyaṇaḥ

Translation

Then, having fallen into doubt, I undertook there an exceedingly severe austerity for twelve years, wholly devoted to meditation upon Viṣṇu.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then/thereupon
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), क्रियाविशेषण (adverb): 'thereupon/then'

• saṃśayam: doubt
• saṃśayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃśaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• āpannaḥ: having fallen into (doubt)
• āpannaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-√pad (धातु) + apanna (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषण (adjective of subject): 'having fallen into/attained'

• tapaḥ: austerity/penance
• tapaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; कर्मपद

• tepe: performed (did)
• tepe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tap (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद; 'he performed'

• su-dāruṇam: very severe
• su-dāruṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + dāruṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण of tapaḥ; 'very severe'

• dvādaśa-abdam: for twelve years
• dvādaśa-abdam: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvādaśa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + abda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (Dvigu), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कालपरिमाण (measure of time)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), उत्तमपुरुषार्थ (1st person), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb): 'there'

• viṣṇu-dhyāna-parāyaṇaḥ: devoted to meditation on Viṣṇu
• viṣṇu-dhyāna-parāyaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + dhyāna (प्रातिपदिक) + parāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative): viṣṇu-dhyāna (षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-भाव: 'Viṣṇu-meditation') + parāyaṇa; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषण

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Pre-creation uncertainty: Brahmā’s saṃśaya leading to prolonged tapas before functional creation proceeds

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how spiritual doubt can become the catalyst for disciplined tapas and one-pointed dhyāna; sustained austerity purifies the mind and prepares the seeker for higher revelation—ultimately, in Shaiva understanding, for the grace of Pati (Shiva) that resolves uncertainty.

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

In the Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa’s broader arc, intense meditation and austerity function as inner worship that culminates in clearer recognition of the Supreme reality; such purification is presented as a prerequisite for rightly approaching Saguna forms (including Linga worship) with steadiness and devotion rather than confusion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The direct practice indicated is prolonged dhyāna (meditative absorption) combined with tapas (austerity). As a Shaiva takeaway, one may adopt regulated worship—japa of a sacred mantra, disciplined vows, and contemplative practice—so that the mind becomes fit for Shiva’s guidance and grace.