Shloka 16

शिवस्य पञ्चब्रह्मावतारवर्णनम्

Description of Shiva’s Pañcabrahma Avatāras

Devanagari script

वामदेवः स वै शम्भुर्ददौ ज्ञानं च वेधसे । सर्गशक्तिमपि प्रीत्या प्रसन्नः परमेश्वरः

Transliteration

vāmadevaḥ sa vai śambhurdadau jñānaṃ ca vedhase | sargaśaktimapi prītyā prasannaḥ parameśvaraḥ

Translation

That Vāmadeva—Śambhu Himself—graciously bestowed sacred knowledge upon Vedhas (Brahmā). Pleased and supremely compassionate, the Parameśvara also lovingly granted him the power of creation.

Word by Word

• वामदेवः: Vāmadeva
• वामदेवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वामदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha-bodhaka/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निश्चयार्थक/एवकारार्थक (emphatic particle)

• शम्भुः: Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• वेधसे: to Brahmā (the creator)
• वेधसे: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेधस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; सम्प्रदान (dative)

• सर्ग-शक्तिम्: the power of creation
• सर्ग-शक्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: सर्गस्य शक्तिः = power of creation

• अपि: also
• अपि: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ (also/even)

• प्रीत्या: out of affection
• प्रीत्या: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण/हेतु-भाव (instrumental: out of affection)

• प्रसन्नः: pleased
• प्रसन्नः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √सद्/√सन् धातु with प्र)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• परम-ईश्वरः: the Supreme Lord
• परम-ईश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास: परमः ईश्वरः

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vāmadeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Establishes Śiva as the ultimate source of Brahmā’s creative capacity; inspires devotees to seek Śiva’s anugraha for right knowledge (jñāna) and right action (kriyā).

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Kalpa-level cosmogony: transmission of jñāna and sarga-śakti to Brahmā.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Vamadeva

FAQs

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

It teaches that jñāna (true spiritual knowledge) and even cosmic functions like creation arise from Śiva’s grace; Brahmā acts as an instrument empowered by Parameśvara, affirming Śiva as the ultimate Pati (Lord) behind all powers.

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

Vāmadeva is a benevolent, saguna aspect of Śiva through whom divine grace becomes accessible; Linga-worship similarly approaches the transcendent Śiva through a sacred, graspable form that bestows jñāna and śakti to the devotee.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate jñāna through Śiva-upāsanā: japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with a prayer for Śiva’s prasāda (grace), supported by simple disciplines like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of Śiva’s empowering presence.