Shloka 25

शिवस्य पञ्चब्रह्मावतारवर्णनम्

Description of Shiva’s Pañcabrahma Avatāras

Devanagari script

धृतकृष्णाम्बरोष्णीषं कृष्णयज्ञोपवीतिनम् । कृष्णेन मौलिनायुक्तं कृष्णस्नानानुलेपनम्

Transliteration

dhṛtakṛṣṇāmbaroṣṇīṣaṃ kṛṣṇayajñopavītinam | kṛṣṇena maulināyuktaṃ kṛṣṇasnānānulepanam

Translation

He wore black garments and a black turban; His sacred thread (yajñopavīta) was black. His head was adorned with a black crest, and He bore the marks of black bathing and black unguents—thus revealing Rudra’s manifest, attribute-bearing (saguṇa) form, fit for contemplation and worship.

Word by Word

• dhṛta-kṛṣṇa-ambara-uṣṇīṣam: wearing black clothes and a turban
• dhṛta-kṛṣṇa-ambara-uṣṇīṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhṛta + kṛṣṇa + ambara + uṣṇīṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त-आधारित विशेषण (dhṛta = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; समासः: तत्पुरुष (having worn black garment and turban)

• kṛṣṇa-yajñopavītinam: wearing a black sacred thread
• kṛṣṇa-yajñopavītinam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛṣṇa + yajñopavītin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; समासः: तत्पुरुष (black + sacred-thread-wearer)

• kṛṣṇena: with black (one), by means of black
• kṛṣṇena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine) / नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter) रूप-सम्भव; तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; विशेषण-रूपेण (as qualifier)

• maulinā: with a head-ornament/crest
• maulinā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maulin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• yuktam: endowed, joined, equipped
• yuktam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yuj (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• kṛṣṇa-snānānulepanam: having black bathing and anointing (i.e., black unguents)
• kṛṣṇa-snānānulepanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛṣṇa + snāna + anulepana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; समासः: द्वन्द्व (snāna + anulepana = bathing and anointing) with qualifier kṛṣṇa (black)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: iconic self-manifestation of Rudra in a distinct ‘kṛṣṇa’ (dark) mode

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra

FAQs

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

It presents a concrete, contemplative portrait of Rudra’s saguṇa aspect—showing that the Infinite (Pati) compassionately assumes describable attributes so devotees (paśu) can focus the mind, mature devotion, and move toward liberation.

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

Like the Liṅga, this description supports worship through a tangible focus: the Liṅga is an aniconic support for meditation, while Rudra’s described attire and markings provide an iconic visualization—both are valid aids leading the devotee toward Shiva’s transcendence (nirguṇa) through a saguṇa doorway.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests dhyāna (visual meditation) on Rudra’s specific form and disciplined outer purity/markings (snāna and anulepana). In practice, pair such contemplation with japa of the Panchākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady devotional focus.