Shloka 49

द्विजेश्वरावतारः

The Manifestation of Shiva as Dvijeśvara

Devanagari script

शूलासिखट्वांगकुठारचर्ममृगाभयाष्टांगपिनाकहस्तम् । वृषोपरिस्थं शितिकण्ठभूषणं प्रोद्भूतमग्रे स नृपो ददर्श

Transliteration

śūlāsikhaṭvāṃgakuṭhāracarmamṛgābhayāṣṭāṃgapinākahastam | vṛṣoparisthaṃ śitikaṇṭhabhūṣaṇaṃ prodbhūtamagre sa nṛpo dadarśa

Translation

Before him, the king beheld the Lord suddenly made manifest in radiant splendor—seated upon the bull—adorned with the emblems of the Blue-throated One, and bearing in His hands the trident, sword, skull-topped staff, axe, hide, deer, the gesture of fearlessness, and the Pināka bow.

Word by Word

• śūla-asi-khaṭvāṅga-kuṭhāra-carma-mṛga-abhaya-aṣṭāṅga-pināka-hastam: having in hand the trident, sword, club, axe, hide, deer, gesture of fearlessness, eight-limbed (bow), and Pināka
• śūla-asi-khaṭvāṅga-kuṭhāra-carma-mṛga-abhaya-aṣṭāṅga-pināka-hastam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śūla + asi + khaṭvāṅga + kuṭhāra + carma + mṛga + abhaya + aṣṭāṅga + pināka + hasta (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); बहुपद-समासः—‘शूलादि-हस्तः’ इति विशेषणम्

• vṛṣa-upari-stham: seated upon the bull
• vṛṣa-upari-stham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛṣa + upari + stha (प्रातिपदिक; ‘stha’ from √sthā धातु)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; ‘वृषस्य उपरि स्थितम्’—विशेषणम्

• śiti-kaṇṭha-bhūṣaṇam: ornamented with the blue throat (i.e., the blue-throated one’s adornment)
• śiti-kaṇṭha-bhūṣaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiti + kaṇṭha + bhūṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; ‘शितिकण्ठस्य भूषणम्’—विशेषणम्

• prodbhūtam: manifested / arisen
• prodbhūtam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra + ud + √bhū (धातु) → prodbhūta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृत्), Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; ‘प्रकटितम्/उत्पन्नम्’

• agre: in front / ahead
• agre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: agra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; सर्वनाम

• nṛpaḥ: the king
• nṛpaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• dadarśa: saw
• dadarśa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights Shiva’s compassionate Saguna revelation: the Lord becomes directly perceivable to the devotee (or seeker) and grants inner fearlessness (abhaya), showing that divine grace can suddenly break through limitation and doubt.

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

While Linga worship points to Shiva’s transcendence (Nirguna), this verse emphasizes Saguna darshana—Shiva with attributes and emblems—supporting devotional contemplation where the mind anchors on His form, weapons, and vahana as expressions of His protecting and liberating power.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Dhyana on Shiva seated on the bull with the abhaya-mudra, combined with japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), is suggested; the contemplation is to internalize Shiva’s protection and the cutting of bondage symbolized by His weapons.