Shloka 26

शिवस्य पञ्चब्रह्मावतारवर्णनम्

Description of Shiva’s Pañcabrahma Avatāras

Devanagari script

स तं दृष्ट्वा महात्मानमघोरं घोरविक्रमम् । ववन्दे देवदेवेशमद्भुतं कृष्णपिंगलम्

Transliteration

sa taṃ dṛṣṭvā mahātmānamaghoraṃ ghoravikramam | vavande devadeveśamadbhutaṃ kṛṣṇapiṃgalam

Translation

Seeing that great-souled Lord—Aghora, yet of formidable might—he bowed down to the wondrous God of gods, the supreme Lord, dark-hued and tawny-eyed.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• तम्: him
• तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial to main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-क्रियाविशेषण (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकालिक (prior action)

• महात्मानम्: the great-souled one
• महात्मानम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• अघोरम्: non-terrible/benign (Aghora)
• अघोरम्: कर्म (Karma/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अघोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); विशेषण (qualifier of देवदेवेशम्)

• घोर-विक्रमम्: of dreadful valor
• घोर-विक्रमम्: कर्म (Karma/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक) + विक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (descriptive); द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• ववन्दे: bowed/worshipped
• ववन्दे: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वन्द् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपदम् (Ātmanepada)

• देव-देवेशम्: Lord of the gods
• देव-देवेशम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + देवेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-समास (genitive: ‘of gods’); द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• अद्भुतम्: wonderful
• अद्भुतम्: कर्म (Karma/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); विशेषण

• कृष्ण-पिङ्गलम्: black-and-tawny (dark with tawny hue)
• कृष्ण-पिङ्गलम्: कर्म (Karma/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + पिङ्गल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (descriptive); द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Aghoramūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the transformative power of Shiva-darśana: on beholding the Lord who is both Aghora (benevolent) and invincible in might, the right response is śaraṇāgati—humble surrender expressed through reverent bowing, which aligns the soul (paśu) toward the Lord (Pati).

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

It presents Saguna Shiva—described by attributes like Aghora, Devadeveśa, and a distinct appearance—showing that devotion to Shiva with form naturally culminates in namaskāra and inner submission, the same devotional posture cultivated in Liṅga worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily namaskāra (prostration) after dhyāna on Shiva’s Aghora aspect, optionally supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") to stabilize devotion and surrender.