Shloka 9

द्विजेश्वरावतारः

The Manifestation of Shiva as Dvijeśvara

Devanagari script

शिवा शिवश्च भूत्वोभौ तद्वने द्विजदम्पती । व्याघ्रं मायामयं कृत्वाविर्भूतौ निजलीलया

Transliteration

śivā śivaśca bhūtvobhau tadvane dvijadampatī | vyāghraṃ māyāmayaṃ kṛtvāvirbhūtau nijalīlayā

Translation

Śivā (Pārvatī) and Śiva, becoming a brahmin couple in that forest, manifested—by their own divine play—after fashioning a tiger made of māyā.

Word by Word

• शिवा: Śivā
• शिवा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction: and)

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Kriya (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वक्रिया (having become)

• उभौ: both (of them)
• उभौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उभ (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन

• तत्: of that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सम्बन्धे (genitive singular)

• वने: in the forest
• वने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• द्विज-दम्पती: the brahmin couple
• द्विज-दम्पती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + दम्पती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (a brahmin couple)

• व्याघ्रम्: a tiger
• व्याघ्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• माया-मयम्: illusory
• माया-मयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (made of illusion)

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Kriya (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वक्रिया (having made)

• आविर्भूतौ: appeared / became manifest
• आविर्भूतौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आविर्-भू (धातु)
• Form: भूतकाले कृदन्तः; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle used predicatively); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• निज-लीलया: by their own sport
• निज-लीलया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निज (प्रातिपदिक) + लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (by their own play)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It shows that Śiva and Śivā freely assume forms through līlā, using māyā as an instrument to guide beings toward recognition of the Supreme Lord beyond appearances.

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna manifestation—Śiva appearing in accessible forms—supporting the Purāṇic principle that devotees approach the formless through tangible signs and forms (including the Liṅga) while remembering the Lord’s transcendence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to contemplate Śiva as both transcendent and manifest (nirguṇa-saguṇa bhāva) while repeating the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating discernment so one is not deluded by mere appearances.