Shloka 32

साधुवेषद्विजाह्वयावतारकथनम् | Account of the ‘Sādhu-veṣa’ Brahmin-Named Incarnation

Prelude

Devanagari script

विभूतिभूषणो व्यालवरावेष्टितमस्तकः । सर्वाश्रमपरिभ्रष्टस्त्वविज्ञातगतिस्सदा

Transliteration

vibhūtibhūṣaṇo vyālavarāveṣṭitamastakaḥ | sarvāśramaparibhraṣṭastvavijñātagatissadā

Translation

Adorned with vibhūti as his ornament, with his head encircled by a noble serpent, he stood beyond all the āśramas of worldly life—ever moving in a way unknown to ordinary beings.

Word by Word

• विभूतिभूषणः: adorned with sacred ash
• विभूतिभूषणः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विभूति + भूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—विभूतिः भूषणं यस्य/विभूत्या भूषणम् (सम्भाव्यः षष्ठी/तृतीया-तत्पुरुष; अर्थतः 'ashes as ornament')

• व्यालवर: with an excellent serpent
• व्यालवर: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याल + वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः—वरः व्यालः (कर्मधारय)

• आवेष्टितमस्तकः: whose head is wrapped/encircled
• आवेष्टितमस्तकः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + वेष्ट् (धातु) + मस्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—आवेष्टितं मस्तकं यस्य (बहुव्रीह्यर्थे षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-प्राय); कृदन्तः—आवेष्टित (क्त/PPP)

• सर्वाश्रमपरिभ्रष्टः: fallen away from all āśramas (stages of life)
• सर्वाश्रमपरिभ्रष्टः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + आश्रम + परि + भ्रष्ट (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—सर्वेषु आश्रमेषु परिभ्रष्टः (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष); कृदन्तः—भ्रंश्/भ्रष्ट (क्त/PPP) उपसर्गः—परि

• तु: but/and
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अन्वय (concessive/contrastive particle)

• अविज्ञातगतिः: whose course/way is unknown
• अविज्ञातगतिः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + विज्ञात + गति (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—अविज्ञाता गतिः यस्य (बहुव्रीह्यर्थे षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-प्राय); कृदन्तः—विज्ञात (क्त/PPP) नञ्-पूर्वक

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhikṣāṭana

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse portrays Shiva as the Lord who is not limited by social-religious classifications (āśramas). His vibhūti and serpent signify mastery over impurity, fear, and death—pointing to Pati (Shiva) as the transcendent liberator beyond worldly norms.

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

It emphasizes Saguna Shiva’s recognizable marks—bhasma and nāga—through which devotees contemplate his presence. Such iconography supports Linga-worship by giving the mind concrete sacred symbols while the Linga signifies his all-pervading, beyond-form reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Apply tripuṇḍra (vibhūti) with reverence, remember Shiva as the conqueror of death (serpent motif), and meditate while repeating the Panchākṣarī mantra—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—cultivating inner detachment from worldly identities.