Shloka 56

द्विजेश्वरावतारः

The Manifestation of Shiva as Dvijeśvara

Devanagari script

तव भावपरीक्षार्थं द्विजो भूत्वाहमागतः । व्याघ्रेण या परिग्रस्ता साक्षाद्देवी शिवा हि सा

Transliteration

tava bhāvaparīkṣārthaṃ dvijo bhūtvāhamāgataḥ | vyāghreṇa yā parigrastā sākṣāddevī śivā hi sā

Translation

To test the true disposition of your heart, I have come here in the form of a brāhmaṇa. And she whom the tiger has seized—know her to be none other than Devī Śivā herself, manifest before you.

Word by Word

• tava: your
• tava: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• bhāva-parīkṣā-artham: for testing (your) disposition
• bhāva-parīkṣā-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāva + parīkṣā + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (भावस्य परीक्षा-अर्थम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थक (purpose)

• dvijaḥ: a brāhmaṇa / twice-born
• dvijaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• bhūtvā: having become
• bhūtvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having become’

• aham: I
• aham: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• āgataḥ: have come
• āgataḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle used as finite), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘आगतः’ = ‘has come’

• vyāghreṇa: by a tiger
• vyāghreṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyāghra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• yā: she who
• yā: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (relative pronoun)

• parigrastā: seized, caught
• parigrastā: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari-√gras (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of yā/devī)

• sākṣāt: directly, in person
• sākṣāt: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण-भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sākṣāt (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारः: क्रियाविशेषणम्/निपात (indeclinable: directly, manifestly)

• devī: the Goddess
• devī: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• śivā: Śivā (Pārvatī)
• śivā: Kartṛ-nirdeśa (कर्ता-निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śivā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समनाधिकरणम् (apposition to devī)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपातः (particle of emphasis/indeed)

• sā: she
• sā: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva evaluates a devotee’s bhāva (inner motive) rather than outer status; divine tests reveal compassion, surrender, and steadiness—key virtues on the Shaiva path to grace (anugraha) and liberation.

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

Saguna Śiva compassionately assumes a visible form (here, as a brāhmaṇa) to guide the devotee; the verse reinforces that true Liṅga-worship is not mere ritual display but heartfelt devotion expressed as dharma and protection of the Divine (seen here as Devī Śivā).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice bhāva-śuddhi (purifying intention) through japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and cultivate compassionate action as an offering—supported by simple Shaiva observances like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and mindful remembrance of Śiva’s presence in all beings.