Shloka 14

Devanagari script

एवं लीलावतारो हि शंकरस्य महाप्रभोः । पिप्पलादो मुनिवरो नानालीलाकरः प्रभुः

Transliteration

evaṃ līlāvatāro hi śaṃkarasya mahāprabhoḥ | pippalādo munivaro nānālīlākaraḥ prabhuḥ

Translation

Thus, Pippalāda—the excellent sage—was indeed a divine play-incarnation (līlā-avatāra) of Śaṅkara, the Great Lord, the sovereign who performs many wondrous līlās.

Word by Word

• evaṃ: thus
• evaṃ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evaṃ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• līlā-avatāraḥ: playful incarnation
• līlā-avatāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: līlā-avatāra (प्रातिपदिक; लीला + अवतार)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधान/हेतौ (emphasis/indeed)

• śaṃkarasya: of Śaṅkara
• śaṃkarasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• mahā-prabhoḥ: of the great Lord
• mahā-prabhoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-prabhu (प्रातिपदिक; महा + प्रभु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular); ‘śaṃkarasya’ इत्यस्य विशेषण-रूपेण

• pippalādaḥ: Pippalāda
• pippalādaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pippalāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• muni-varaḥ: best of sages
• muni-varaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni-vara (प्रातिपदिक; मुनि + वर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); ‘pippalādaḥ’ इत्यस्य विशेषण/उपाधि

• nānā-līlā-karaḥ: performer of many divine plays
• nānā-līlā-karaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nānā-līlā-kara (प्रातिपदिक; नाना + लीला + कर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); ‘pippalādaḥ’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• prabhuḥ: lord / master
• prabhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); ‘pippalādaḥ’ इत्यस्य समानााधिकरणम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shankara
• Pippalada

FAQs

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

It affirms that even a revered sage like Pippalāda can be understood as Śiva’s līlā-avatāra—showing that the Lord (Pati) freely manifests forms to uplift beings and reveal His grace through sacred narratives.

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

By calling Pippalāda a līlā-avatāra of Śaṅkara, the verse supports Saguna worship: devotees may approach Śiva through manifest forms, stories, and holy persons while recognizing the same supreme Lord behind them—often adored as the Liṅga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is smaraṇa (remembrance) and japa: contemplate Śiva’s compassionate manifestations and perform Panchākṣarī japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with devotion, seeing all sacred forms as expressions of the one Mahāprabhu.