Shloka 46

द्वादशज्योतिर्लिङ्गावतारकथनम्

Account of the Twelve Jyotirliṅga Manifestations

Devanagari script

रामेश्वरावतारस्तु शिवस्यैकादशः स्मृतः । रामचन्द्रप्रियकरो रामसंस्थापितो मुने

Transliteration

rāmeśvarāvatārastu śivasyaikādaśaḥ smṛtaḥ | rāmacandrapriyakaro rāmasaṃsthāpito mune

Translation

O sage, the Rāmeśvara incarnation is remembered as the eleventh manifestation of Lord Śiva. It is especially dear to Rāmacandra, and it was established as a sacred presence by Rāma himself.

Word by Word

• रामेश्वरावतारः: the incarnation of Rāmeśvara
• रामेश्वरावतारः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रामेश्वर + अवतार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (रामेश्वरस्य अवतारः)

• तु: indeed/and/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात/particle (contrast/emphasis)

• शिवस्य: of Śiva
• शिवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• एकादशः: the eleventh
• एकादशः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकादश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; संख्यावाचक-विशेषण

• स्मृतः: is remembered/said
• स्मृतः: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicative verbal)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे विधेय-विशेषण (is said/remembered)

• रामचन्द्रप्रियकरः: one who pleases Rāmacandra
• रामचन्द्रप्रियकरः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रामचन्द्र + प्रिय + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः/उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (रामचन्द्रस्य प्रियं करोति)

• रामसंस्थापितः: established by Rāma
• रामसंस्थापितः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राम + संस्थापित (प्रातिपदिक; संस्थापित = कृदन्त from सम्-स्था/स्था धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तृतीया/कर्तृ-सम्बन्धार्थे तत्पुरुषः (रामेण संस्थापितः = established by Rāma)

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rama (Ramachandra)
• Rameshvara

FAQs

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

It affirms that Śiva compassionately manifests in a form accessible to devotees, and that dharmic devotion (as exemplified by Rāma) culminates in establishing and worshipping the Śiva-liṅga as a doorway to grace and liberation.

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

Rāmeśvara is presented as a revered saguna focus of Śiva—Śiva present through the liṅga and sacred installation—showing that worship of the manifest symbol leads the devotee toward Śiva’s transcendent (nirguṇa) reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Liṅga-pūjā with mantra-japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—and pilgrimage-minded devotion (darśana, abhiṣeka) to the established Rāmeśvara presence are the implied takeaways.