Shloka 7

शिवस्य पञ्चब्रह्मावतारवर्णनम्

Description of Shiva’s Pañcabrahma Avatāras

Devanagari script

तं दृष्ट्वा पुरुषं ब्रह्मा ब्रह्मरूपिणमीश्वरम् । ज्ञात्वा ध्यात्वा स हृदये ववन्दे प्रयताञ्जलिः

Transliteration

taṃ dṛṣṭvā puruṣaṃ brahmā brahmarūpiṇamīśvaram | jñātvā dhyātvā sa hṛdaye vavande prayatāñjaliḥ

Translation

Seeing that Supreme Person—Īśvara appearing in the very form of Brahmā—Brahmā recognized Him, meditated upon Him within his heart, and then bowed in reverence with joined palms.

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive): ‘having seen’

• पुरुषम्: the Person (Puruṣa)
• पुरुषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• ब्रह्म-रूपिणम्: having the form of Brahman
• ब्रह्म-रूपिणम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: ‘ब्रह्मरूपः’/‘ब्रह्मरूपिणः’; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (ईश्वरम् इत्यस्य विशेषण)

• ईश्वरम्: the Lord
• ईश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त: ‘having known/recognized’

• ध्यात्वा: having meditated
• ध्यात्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त: ‘having meditated’

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हृदये: in (his) heart
• हृदये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• ववन्दे: bowed / paid homage
• ववन्दे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वन्द् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्ष), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• प्रयत-अञ्जलिः: with reverently joined hands
• प्रयत-अञ्जलिः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रयत (प्रातिपदिक) + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि: ‘प्रयतः अञ्जलिः यस्य सः’ (hands joined reverently); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shatarudrasaṃhitā account to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: epiphany/recognition (pratyabhijñā-like) of Īśvara as the inner Lord beyond the creator

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

The verse presents the Shaiva Siddhanta movement from recognition (jñāna) to inner contemplation (dhyāna) and finally surrender (namaskāra). Even Brahmā, the cosmic creator, bows to Īśvara (Shiva as Pati), indicating Shiva’s supremacy and the soul’s proper response—humble devotion grounded in direct inner awareness.

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

Brahmā encounters Īśvara in a perceivable form (saguṇa manifestation—here ‘brahmarūpi’), then internalizes that vision through heart-meditation. This mirrors Linga worship: one begins with a sacred, visible support (liṅga as a focus) and deepens into inward realization of Shiva as the indwelling Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is dhyāna in the heart followed by añjali-namaskāra (reverent bowing). As a Shaiva takeaway, one may sit in quiet contemplation of Shiva, repeat the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) mentally, and conclude with respectful salutations—especially suitable for Mahāśivarātri worship.