Shloka 39

Devanagari script

ईशानः पुरुषो घोरो वामसंज्ञस्तथैव च । ब्रह्मसंज्ञो महेशस्य मूर्तयः पंच विश्रुताः

Transliteration

īśānaḥ puruṣo ghoro vāmasaṃjñastathaiva ca | brahmasaṃjño maheśasya mūrtayaḥ paṃca viśrutāḥ

Translation

Īśāna, Puruṣa, Ghora, Vāma, and the form known as Brahmā—these are the five well-renowned manifestations (mūrtis) of Maheśa (Śiva).

Word by Word

• ईशानः: Īśāna (a form/name of Śiva)
• ईशानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• पुरुषः: the Person (Puruṣa)
• पुरुषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• घोरः: terrible, fierce
• घोरः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective)

• वाम-संज्ञः: having the name ‘Vāma’
• वाम-संज्ञः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाम (प्रातिपदिक) + संज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): 'वामस्य संज्ञा यस्य' / 'named Vāma'

• तथा: thus, likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle, emphasis)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

• ब्रह्म-संज्ञः: having the name ‘Brahma’
• ब्रह्म-संज्ञः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + संज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'ब्रह्मणः संज्ञा यस्य' / 'named Brahman/Brahmā'

• महेशस्य: of Mahēśa (Śiva)
• महेशस्य: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• मूर्तयः: forms, manifestations
• मूर्तयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Plural)

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पञ्च (अव्यय/संख्या)
• Form: अव्यय; संख्या (numeral, indeclinable)

• विश्रुताः: well-known, renowned
• विश्रुताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-श्रु (धातु) → विश्रुत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग/स्त्रीलिङ्ग प्रथमा-बहुवचन; 'प्रसिद्धाः' (well-known)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that the one Maheśa becomes approachable through five renowned manifestations. Meditating on these forms refines devotion and understanding: the many forms are Śiva’s compassionate self-disclosure, while His supreme nature remains beyond all limitation.

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

The Liṅga signifies Śiva’s transcendence (nirguṇa) and also serves as a focal support for worship of His saguna manifestations. This verse supports saguna upāsanā by naming key mūrtis through which devotees contemplate and honor the Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is pañca-mūrti dhyāna: worship Śiva (often as the Liṅga) while contemplating these five aspects, reciting the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and offering bilva leaves with steady, one-pointed remembrance.