Shloka 22

एकोनविंशतिशिवावतारवर्णनम्

Description of the Nineteen Manifestations/Avatāras of Śiva

Devanagari script

वाचःश्रवा रुचीकश्च स्यावास्यश्च यतीश्वरः । एते पुत्रा भविष्यन्ति तत्रापि च तपोधनाः

Transliteration

vācaḥśravā rucīkaśca syāvāsyaśca yatīśvaraḥ | ete putrā bhaviṣyanti tatrāpi ca tapodhanāḥ

Translation

“Vācaḥśravā, Rucīka, Syāvāsya, and Yatīśvara—these will be born as sons there as well, all of them rich in austerity (tapas), true treasures of spiritual discipline.”

Word by Word

• vācaḥśravāḥ: Vācaḥśravā (proper name)
• vācaḥśravāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vācaḥśravas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; वाचः श्रवः यस्य सः (बहुव्रीहि)

• rucīkaḥ: Rucīka (proper name)
• rucīkaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rucīka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• syāvāsyaḥ: Syāvāsya (proper name)
• syāvāsyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: syāvāsya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; श्यावः आस्यं यस्य/श्यावास्यः (descriptive name)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• yatīśvaraḥ: Lord of ascetics (proper name)
• yatīśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yatīśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; यतीनाम् ईश्वरः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• ete: these
• ete: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• putrāḥ: sons
• putrāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• bhaviṣyanti: will be
• bhaviṣyanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• tapodhanāḥ: rich in austerity, ascetics
• tapodhanāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapodhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; तपः धनं येषाम्/तपसा धनम् (तत्पुरुष; 'rich in austerity')

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: yuga-parivarta (cyclical succession of ages/Manvantaric-style enumeration implied)

Characters & Entities

• Vācaḥśravā
• Rucīka
• Syāvāsya
• Yatīśvara

FAQs

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

The verse highlights tapas as a sacred “wealth” that produces spiritually luminous progeny—symbolizing that discipline, purity, and devotion create conditions for dharmic life and eventual liberation under Shiva’s grace.

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

In Shaiva practice, tapas supports Saguna Shiva worship by steadying mind and senses, making one fit for Linga-upasana, mantra-japa, and receiving Shiva’s anugraha (grace), which ultimately leads beyond bondage.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is cultivation of tapas through daily vrata, mantra-japa (especially the Panchakshara), and disciplined worship—optionally supported by Tripundra (bhasma) and Rudraksha as aids to steadiness and devotion.