Shloka 38

शिवस्य पञ्चब्रह्मावतारवर्णनम्

Description of Shiva’s Pañcabrahma Avatāras

Devanagari script

अथ तेषां महाप्राज्ञ व्यवहारं यथायथम् । त्रिलोकहितकारं हि सर्वं ब्रह्माण्डसंस्थितम्

Transliteration

atha teṣāṃ mahāprājña vyavahāraṃ yathāyatham | trilokahitakāraṃ hi sarvaṃ brahmāṇḍasaṃsthitam

Translation

Then, O greatly wise one, their conduct—each in its proper manner—was established within the cosmic egg; for everything is indeed ordered for the welfare of the three worlds.

Word by Word

• अथ: then/now
• अथ: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: आरम्भ/अनन्तर-अव्यय (particle)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन

• महाप्राज्ञ: O greatly wise one
• महाप्राज्ञ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + प्राज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् प्राज्ञः)

• व्यवहारम्: conduct/practice
• व्यवहारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यवहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• यथायथम्: as appropriate, in due manner
• यथायथम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा + यथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरुक्त-अव्यय (distributive adverb)

• त्रिलोकहितकारम्: beneficial to the three worlds
• त्रिलोकहितकारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + लोक + हित + कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (त्रिलोकानां हितकारः)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• सर्वम्: all (of it)
• सर्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nominative/Accusative), एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा (वाक्य-विषय)

• ब्रह्माण्डसंस्थितम्: situated in the universe (cosmic egg)
• ब्रह्माण्डसंस्थितम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्माण्ड + संस्थित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्माण्डे संस्थितम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: brahmāṇḍa-saṃsthiti (cosmic ordering within the ‘egg’ universe)

Characters & Entities

• Three worlds (Trailokya)
• Brahmanda (cosmic egg)

FAQs

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

It affirms that the universe is not random: all roles and activities are arranged in proper order for the good of the three worlds, reflecting Shiva’s sustaining intelligence behind cosmic harmony.

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

By emphasizing an ordered cosmos rooted in a higher principle, it supports Saguna Shiva worship (including the Linga) as devotion to the Lord who stabilizes and regulates the world-process for the welfare of beings.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is alignment with dharma through steady Shiva-remembrance—such as japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya)—to harmonize one’s conduct with the divinely ordered welfare of the three worlds.