Shloka 9

Daśa-Śivāvatāra-Nirūpaṇa

Enumeration of Ten Prime Manifestations of Śiva with Their Śaktis

Devanagari script

शिवावतारः सुखदो ह्यष्टमो बगलामुखः । शक्तिस्तत्र महानन्दा विख्याता बगलामुखी

Transliteration

śivāvatāraḥ sukhado hyaṣṭamo bagalāmukhaḥ | śaktistatra mahānandā vikhyātā bagalāmukhī

Translation

The eighth incarnation of Śiva, the bestower of well-being, is Bagalāmukha. In that form, His Śakti is the Great Bliss (Mahānandā), renowned as Bagalāmukhī.

Word by Word

• शिवावतारः: incarnation of Śiva
• शिवावतारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव+अवतार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; ‘शिवस्य अवतारः’

• सुखदः: bestowing happiness
• सुखदः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख+द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; ‘giver of happiness’

• हि: indeed
• हि: Vākyārtha-dyotaka (वाक्यार्थद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; emphatic/causal particle

• अष्टमः: eighth
• अष्टमः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; ordinal adjective

• बगलामुखः: Bagalāmukha
• बगलामुखः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बगला+मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; proper name/epithet

• शक्तिः: power/Śakti
• शक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• तत्र: there/in that context
• तत्र: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; adverb of place

• महानन्दा: Mahānandā
• महानन्दा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा+आनन्दा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; proper name/epithet

• विख्याता: renowned
• विख्याता: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि+ख्या (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; agrees with महानन्दा

• बगलामुखी: Bagalāmukhī
• बगलामुखी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बगला+मुखी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; feminine epithet/name

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Tārā

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Bagalāmukha
• Bagalāmukhī
• Mahānandā (Śakti)

FAQs

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

It affirms that Śiva manifests as specific saguna forms to bless beings with sukha (well-being), and that each manifestation is inseparable from its Śakti—here, Mahānandā—highlighting Shiva-Śakti unity as the channel of grace.

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

While the Liṅga signifies Śiva beyond limitation, this verse emphasizes saguna worship: devotees can approach Śiva through a named form (Bagalāmukha) together with His Śakti (Bagalāmukhī), understanding both as expressions of the one Supreme Pati.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is nāma-japa and dhyāna on Śiva together with Śakti—supported by Panchākṣarī japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—seeking welfare (sukha) through devotion and inner steadiness.