Shloka 21

द्विजेश्वरावतारः

The Manifestation of Shiva as Dvijeśvara

Devanagari script

रुदित्वा चिरकालं च स विप्रो माययेश्वरः । भद्रायुषं महीपालं प्रोवाच मदहारकः

Transliteration

ruditvā cirakālaṃ ca sa vipro māyayeśvaraḥ | bhadrāyuṣaṃ mahīpālaṃ provāca madahārakaḥ

Translation

Having wept for a long time, that Brahmin—who, through his divine māyā, was the Lord himself, the remover of pride—then addressed King Bhadrāyuṣa, ruler of the earth.

Word by Word

• रुदित्वा: having wept
• रुदित्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √रुद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव

• चिरकालम्: for a long time
• चिरकालम्: Kāla-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिर + काल (प्रातिपदिक); components: cira + kāla
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (चिरः कालः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• विप्रः: the brāhmaṇa
• विप्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• मायया: by (his) illusion
• मायया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• ईश्वरः: the Lord
• ईश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• भद्रायुषम्: one of auspicious life (named Bhadrāyuṣa)
• भद्रायुषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भद्र + आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक); components: bhadra + āyus
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (भद्रम् आयुः यस्य सः)

• महीपालम्: the king, protector of the earth
• महीपालम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही + पाल (प्रातिपदिक); components: mahī + pāla
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (महीम् पालयति)

• प्रोवाच: said, spoke to
• प्रोवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परस्मैपद), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• मदहारकः: remover of pride
• मदहारकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मद + हारक (प्रातिपदिक); components: mada + hāraka
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मदं हरति)

Speaker

The disguised Brahmin (Lord Shiva acting through māyā)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Bhadrāyuṣa

FAQs

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

It highlights Shiva as Madahāraka—the one who dissolves ego—sometimes veiling his divinity through māyā to humble the ruler and turn the mind toward surrender and grace.

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

Though Shiva is ultimately beyond form, this episode shows Saguna Shiva engaging the world compassionately—approaching as a Brahmin—so the devotee learns devotion and humility, which are central to Linga-worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily ego-purification through japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a humble attitude, supported by Shaiva disciplines like bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and Rudrāksha where appropriate.