Shloka 45

शिवस्य पञ्चब्रह्मावतारवर्णनम्

Description of Shiva’s Pañcabrahma Avatāras

Devanagari script

त्वक्पाणिस्पर्शवायूनामीश्वरं रूपमैश्वरम् । पुरुषाख्यं विचारज्ञा मतिमन्तः प्रचक्षते

Transliteration

tvakpāṇisparśavāyūnāmīśvaraṃ rūpamaiśvaram | puruṣākhyaṃ vicārajñā matimantaḥ pracakṣate

Translation

The discerning and wise declare that the sovereign, lordly Form presiding over skin, the hands, touch, and the vital airs is the Supreme Person (Puruṣa) Himself.

Word by Word

• त्वक्: skin
• त्वक्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/List member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वस्य अङ्ग (member of a list)

• पाणि: hand
• पाणि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/List member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वस्य अङ्ग

• स्पर्श: touch
• स्पर्श: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/List member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्पर्श (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वस्य अङ्ग

• वायूनाम्: of the winds (vāyus)
• वायूनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• ईश्वरम्: the lord
• ईश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• रूपम्: form
• रूपम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• ऐश्वरम्: lordly/divine
• ऐश्वरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऐश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier) रूपम् इति

• पुरुषाख्यम्: called ‘Puruṣa’
• पुरुषाख्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुरुष-आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—पुरुष-आख्य (तत्पुरुषः: ‘called Puruṣa’)

• विचारज्ञाः: those who know discernment
• विचारज्ञाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विचार-ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—विचार-ज्ञ (तत्पुरुषः: ‘knowing discernment’)

• मतिमन्तः: intelligent
• मतिमन्तः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मतिमन्त् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier) विचारज्ञाः इति

• प्रचक्षते: declare/describe
• प्रचक्षते: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-चक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It identifies Shiva (Rudra) as the inner sovereign (Pati) who presides over sensory function and prāṇa, teaching that liberation comes by recognizing the Lord as the true controller behind body and mind.

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

Though Shiva is ultimately beyond attributes, this verse supports Saguna contemplation: worshipping Shiva as the presiding deity of the senses and prāṇa, with the Linga as the sacred focus for realizing His indwelling lordship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Prāṇāyāma and sense-withdrawal (pratyāhāra) combined with japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) are implied, directing awareness from touch and breath to the Lord who governs them.