Shloka 3

द्विजेश्वरावतारः

The Manifestation of Shiva as Dvijeśvara

Devanagari script

तद्धर्मस्य परीक्षार्थं पुनराविर्बभूव सः । द्विजेश्वरस्वरूपेण तदेव कथयाम्यहम्

Transliteration

taddharmasya parīkṣārthaṃ punarāvirbabhūva saḥ | dvijeśvarasvarūpeṇa tadeva kathayāmyaham

Translation

In order to test the truth of that dharma, He manifested once again; assuming the form of Dvijeśvara, a lordly Brahmin, I shall now recount that very account.

Word by Word

• तत्: of that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम-रूपम्; ‘धर्मस्य’ इति विशेषणम्

• धर्मस्य: of the dharma/duty
• धर्मस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• परीक्षा-अर्थम्: for the purpose of testing
• परीक्षा-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परीक्षा (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (purpose)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• आविः: manifestly, openly
• आविः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आविस्/आविः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) ‘प्रकटम्’

• बभूव: became/appeared
• बभूव: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

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

• द्विज-ईश्वर-स्वरूपेण: in the form of the lord of twice-born (a Brahmin)
• द्विज-ईश्वर-स्वरूपेण: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण/प्रकारवाचक (by/with the form)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ‘एव’ इति सह बलवत्त्वम्

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: Nipata (निपात/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/अवधारण (emphasis)

• कथयामि: I narrate/tell
• कथयामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथय् (धातु, णिच् causative)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (सर्वनाम), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Tatpuruṣa

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Depicts Śiva’s ‘testing’ of dharma through a concealed/disguised manifestation—an instructive paradigm for devotees: the Lord may veil His divinity (tirodhāna) to examine and mature the soul’s adherence to dharma.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It shows that Shiva, as Pati (the Lord), compassionately tests and reveals dharma through divine līlā—so that true righteousness is clarified and the devotee’s inner sincerity is brought to light.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Shiva’s accessible manifestations: even when the Absolute is beyond form, Shiva assumes a knowable form (here, a Brahmin) to guide beings—mirroring how the Linga serves as a worshipful, graspable support for devotion and realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is vigilance in dharma and humility: maintain daily Shiva-smarana (remembrance) through japa of the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and let conduct be tested by truthfulness and compassion.