Shloka 48

पिप्पलादावतारकथनम्

Account of the Pippalāda Avatāra

Devanagari script

तन्दृष्ट्वा स्वसुतन्दिव्यं स्वरूपम्मुनिकामिनी । सुवर्चाज्ञाय मनसा साक्षाद्रुद्रावतारकम्

Transliteration

tandṛṣṭvā svasutandivyaṃ svarūpammunikāminī | suvarcājñāya manasā sākṣādrudrāvatārakam

Translation

Seeing her own son in that divine form, Suvarcā—the beloved wife of the sage—recognized within her heart that he was, in truth, a direct incarnation of Rudra.

Word by Word

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

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: पूर्वकाल (Absolutive; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); अर्थः ‘दर्शनं कृत्वा’

• स्व-सुतम्: her own son
• स्व-सुतम्: कर्म (Object; appositional with तम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• दिव्यम्: divine
• दिव्यम्: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying सुतम्/स्वरूपम्)

• स्व-रूपम्: (his) true form
• स्व-रूपम्: कर्म (Object; what was seen)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• मुनि-कामिनी: the sage’s wife
• मुनि-कामिनी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + कामिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• सुवर्चाः: Suvarchā
• सुवर्चाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; apposition to मुनिकामिनी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुवर्चस्/सुवर्चा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• ज्ञाय: having understood/recognized
• ज्ञाय: पूर्वकाल (Absolutive; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund) का वैदिक/पुराणिक रूप; ‘ज्ञात्वा’ इत्यर्थः

• मनसा: with the mind
• मनसा: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental); एकवचन

• साक्षात्: directly
• साक्षात्: विशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण

• रुद्र-अवतारकम्: (as) an incarnation of Rudra
• रुद्र-अवतारकम्: कर्म (Object; recognized as)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अवतारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Suvarcā

FAQs

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

The verse highlights inner recognition (pratyabhijñā-like insight) born of grace and devotion: the divine may appear as one’s own child or near relation, and the mature heart perceives Rudra’s presence beyond ordinary identity.

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

It supports Saguna-upāsanā by affirming that Shiva can be directly manifest in a perceivable form (avatāra). Just as the Liṅga is a visible focus for the invisible Supreme, the avatāra is another compassionate mode for devotees to approach and serve Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate inward contemplation and Shiva-bhakti—mentally offering reverence (mānasa-pūjā) and repeating the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to refine the mind so it can recognize Shiva’s presence in all circumstances.