Shloka 7

Daśa-Śivāvatāra-Nirūpaṇa

Enumeration of Ten Prime Manifestations of Śiva with Their Śaktis

Devanagari script

छिन्नमस्तकनामासौ शिवः षष्ठः प्रकीर्तितः । भक्तकामप्रदा चैव गिरिजा छिन्नमस्तका

Transliteration

chinnamastakanāmāsau śivaḥ ṣaṣṭhaḥ prakīrtitaḥ | bhaktakāmapradā caiva girijā chinnamastakā

Translation

The sixth form of Śiva is proclaimed as “Chinnamastaka.” In that very form, Girijā (Pārvatī) too is known as Chinnamastakā, the bestower of the devotees’ cherished wishes.

Word by Word

• छिन्नमस्तक-नाम: the name ‘Chinnamastakā’
• छिन्नमस्तक-नाम: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/नामविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छिन्नमस्तक + नाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative): ‘छिन्नमस्तकस्य नाम’

• आसौ: he (that one)
• आसौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असौ (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• षष्ठः: the sixth
• षष्ठः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक-विशेषण (ordinal adjective)

• प्रकीर्तितः: is proclaimed
• प्रकीर्तितः: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कीर्त् (धातु) → प्रकीर्तित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थः ‘is proclaimed’

• भक्त-काम-प्रदा: giver of devotees’ wishes
• भक्त-काम-प्रदा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त + काम + प्रदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘भक्तानां कामान् प्रददाति’ (giver of devotees’ desires)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• गिरिजा: Girijā (Pārvatī)
• गिरिजा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरिजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• छिन्नमस्तका: Chinnamastakā
• छिन्नमस्तका: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/नाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छिन्नमस्तका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Āghoramūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It affirms that Shiva’s manifested (saguṇa) forms are innumerable and grace-filled, and that Shiva and Girijā are worshipped as a unified reality who grants the devotee’s rightful aims through bhakti.

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

The verse highlights a specific saguṇa form (Chinnamastaka) for contemplation and worship; in Shaiva practice, such form-worship harmonizes with Linga worship because both are gateways to realizing Shiva as the supreme Pati.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Simple bhakti-focused upāsanā: japa of the Panchākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with remembrance of Shiva-Girijā as Chinnamastaka, supported by traditional aids like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa if one follows Shaiva observance.