Shloka 6

शिवस्य पञ्चब्रह्मावतारवर्णनम्

Description of Shiva’s Pañcabrahma Avatāras

Devanagari script

तस्मिंस्तत्परमं ब्रह्म ध्यायतो ब्रह्मणस्तथा । उत्पन्नस्तु शिखायुक्तः कुमारः श्वेतलोहितः

Transliteration

tasmiṃstatparamaṃ brahma dhyāyato brahmaṇastathā | utpannastu śikhāyuktaḥ kumāraḥ śvetalohitaḥ

Translation

As Brahmā meditated upon the Supreme Brahman, there arose a youthful divine being—Śvetalohita—adorned with a topknot, radiant in form, born from contemplation of the highest Reality.

Word by Word

• तस्मिन्: in that (state/place)
• तस्मिन्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (ब्रह्म इत्यस्य विशेषण)

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (ब्रह्म इत्यस्य विशेषण)

• ब्रह्म: Brahman / the Absolute
• ब्रह्म: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• ध्यायतः: of (him) meditating
• ध्यायतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त (Present participle), परस्मैपदी; षष्ठी (6th) एकवचन—‘of (one) meditating’

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (ब्रह्मा), षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• तथा: thus / likewise
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• उत्पन्नः: arose / was born
• उत्पन्नः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत् + पद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तु: indeed / then
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (particle)

• शिखा-युक्तः: endowed with a topknot
• शिखा-युक्तः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिखा (प्रातिपदिक) + युक्त (युज् धातु, क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: ‘शिखया युक्तः’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कुमारः: a youth / boy
• कुमारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• श्वेत-लोहितः: white and red (in hue)
• श्वेत-लोहितः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्वेत (प्रातिपदिक) + लोहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व (itaretara): ‘श्वेतश्च लोहितश्च’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Shvetalohita

FAQs

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

It presents a key Shaiva theme: when the mind is absorbed in the Supreme (Brahman), the highest Reality can become experientially ‘manifest’—here as Śvetalohita—showing the bridge from transcendence to a perceivable divine form.

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

Meditation on the Supreme Brahman culminates in a Saguna revelation (a form with attributes). This supports Shiva Purana practice: the formless Absolute is approached through worshipful forms—such as the Linga—without denying the transcendence behind them.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Focused dhyāna on the Supreme Shiva-principle (Pati) is implied—steady contemplation that can be supported by japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined yogic concentration.