Shloka 34

शिवस्य पञ्चब्रह्मावतारवर्णनम्

Description of Shiva’s Pañcabrahma Avatāras

Devanagari script

तं दृष्ट्वा प्रणनामासौ ब्रह्मेशानमजं विभुम् । सर्वगं सर्वदं सर्वं सुरूपं रूपवर्जितम्

Transliteration

taṃ dṛṣṭvā praṇanāmāsau brahmeśānamajaṃ vibhum | sarvagaṃ sarvadaṃ sarvaṃ surūpaṃ rūpavarjitam

Translation

Seeing Him, he bowed down in reverence to Brahmā’s Lord—Īśāna, the Unborn, the all-pervading Supreme. He is present everywhere, the giver of all, the All itself—of perfect auspicious beauty, yet beyond all limiting form.

Word by Word

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम-रूपम्

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया; ‘having seen’

• praṇanāma: bowed down
• praṇanāma: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√nam (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• asau: that one (he)
• asau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम-रूपम्

• brahma-īśānam: the Lord of Brahmā
• brahma-īśānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + īśāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (brahmaṇaḥ īśānaḥ)

• ajam: unborn
• ajam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• vibhum: all-pervading, mighty
• vibhum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vibhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• sarva-gam: all-pervading
• sarva-gam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + ga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (sarvatra gacchati/ vyāpnoti iti)

• sarva-dam: giver of all
• sarva-dam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + da (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (sarvaṃ dadāti iti)

• sarvam: all, entire
• sarvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• su-rūpam: beautiful-formed
• su-rūpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (सुन्दरं रूपं यस्य)

• rūpa-varjitam: devoid of form
• rūpa-varjitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक) + varjita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √vṛj/varj ‘to avoid’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; निष्ठान्त (Past Passive Participle) ‘varjita’; तत्पुरुषः (rūpena varjitam / rūpaṃ varjitam)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Ishana

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that Shiva (Īśāna) is both the immanent reality pervading all (sarvaga) and the transcendent Supreme beyond all limiting forms (rūpavarjita). True devotion begins with humble surrender to this Pati who grants all fruits and ultimately liberation.

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

By calling Shiva “surūpa” yet “rūpavarjita,” the verse supports Shaiva practice: devotees approach the formless Absolute through a sacred, auspicious symbol and form—such as the Shiva Linga—while understanding that Shiva is not confined to any single image.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The immediate practice implied is praṇāma (reverential prostration) with contemplation of Shiva as all-pervading and unborn; this naturally pairs with japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and meditation on Shiva’s presence in all beings.