Shloka 27

शिवस्य पञ्चब्रह्मावतारवर्णनम्

Description of Shiva’s Pañcabrahma Avatāras

Devanagari script

अघोरं तु ततो ब्रह्मा ब्रह्मरूपं व्यचिंतयत् । तुष्टाव वाग्भिरिष्टाभिर्भक्तवत्सलमव्ययम्

Transliteration

aghoraṃ tu tato brahmā brahmarūpaṃ vyaciṃtayat | tuṣṭāva vāgbhiriṣṭābhirbhaktavatsalamavyayam

Translation

Then Brahmā contemplated the Lord as Aghora—the auspicious, non-terrifying Reality—conceiving Him as the very form of Brahman. Thereupon he praised that imperishable, unchanging One, tenderly devoted to His devotees, with chosen and cherished hymns.

Word by Word

• अघोरम्: Aghora
• अघोरम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अघोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (contrastive particle)

• ततः: then/thereupon
• ततः: सम्बन्ध (Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रम/हेतुवाचक-अव्यय (then/thereupon)

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• ब्रह्म-रूपम्: the form of Brahman/Brahmā
• ब्रह्म-रूपम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-समास (genitive: ‘of Brahman/Brahmā’); द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• व्यचिन्तयत्: contemplated/reflected upon
• व्यचिन्तयत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपदम् (Parasmaipada)

• तुष्टाव: praised
• तुष्टाव: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपदम् (Parasmaipada)

• वाग्भिः: with words/speeches
• वाग्भिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन (Plural), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine)

• इष्टाभिः: desired/pleasing
• इष्टाभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन (Plural), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine); विशेषण (qualifier of वाग्भिः)

• भक्त-वत्सलम्: affectionate to devotees
• भक्त-वत्सलम्: कर्म (Karma/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + वत्सल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (object-relation: ‘affectionate to devotees’); द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

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

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the episode involving Brahma’s contemplation and praise of Shiva)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Aghoramūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It presents Śiva as Aghora—supremely auspicious and beyond fear—while also affirming Him as Brahman; liberation is approached through contemplation (dhyāna) and heartfelt praise (stuti), grounded in bhakti.

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

By calling Śiva both “Brahmarūpa” (ultimate reality) and “bhaktavatsala” (gracious to devotees), the verse bridges Nirguṇa understanding with Saguṇa devotion—supporting Linga-worship as a concrete focus for meditating on the formless Supreme.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A takeaway is Śiva-dhyāna on the Aghora aspect followed by stotra-japa (recitation of chosen hymns); in Shaiva practice this naturally pairs with Panchākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and devotional praise.