Shloka 35

एकोनविंशतिशिवावतारवर्णनम्

Description of the Nineteen Manifestations/Avatāras of Śiva

Devanagari script

परिवर्ते चतुर्विंशे व्यासो यक्षो यदा विभुः । शूली नाम महायोगी तद्युगे नैमिषे तदा

Transliteration

parivarte caturviṃśe vyāso yakṣo yadā vibhuḥ | śūlī nāma mahāyogī tadyuge naimiṣe tadā

Translation

In the twenty-fourth cycle (parivarta), when the mighty Śiva assumed the office of Vyāsa among the Yakṣas, that great Yogin was known as Śūlī; and in that very age he manifested there at Naimiṣa.

Word by Word

• परिवर्ते: in the Manvantara/period (cycle)
• परिवर्ते: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिवर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• चतुर्विंशे: in the twenty-fourth
• चतुर्विंशे: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa of अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्विंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; संख्यावाचक-द्विगु-समास (catur + viṃśa = 24)

• व्यासः: Vyāsa
• व्यासः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• यक्षः: a Yakṣa
• यक्षः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; व्यासस्य विशेषण-रूपेण (appositional)

• यदा: when
• यदा: सम्बन्ध (Temporal relation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb/conjunction)

• विभुः: the Lord; the mighty one
• विभुः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; व्यासस्य विशेषण-रूपेण (appositional)

• शूली: the trident-bearer
• शूली: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; शूलधारी (one who bears a trident)

• नाम: by name
• नाम: सम्बन्ध (Naming/apposition marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: नाम-शब्दः, संज्ञासूचक-अव्यय (indeclinable indicating appellation)

• महायोगी: the great yogin
• महायोगी: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महायोगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (महान् + योगी)

• तत्: that
• तत्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa of अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; 'युगे' इत्यस्य विशेषण

• युगे: in the age
• युगे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• नैमिषे: at Naimiṣa
• नैमिषे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैमिष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; स्थानवाचक (place-name)

• तदा: then
• तदा: सम्बन्ध (Temporal relation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse situates a manifestation in the 24th parivarta: the all-pervading Lord appears as a ‘Vyāsa’ (divider/arranger of lore) among Yakṣas, known as Śūlī, and connected with Naimiṣa—highlighting Naimiṣāraṇya as a perennial teaching-forest rather than a Jyotirliṅga site.

Significance: Naimiṣa is famed for śravaṇa of Purāṇas and tapas; association with Śiva-as-teacher/Vyāsa underscores merit from listening, study, and dharma-propagation.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Explicit parivarta count (24th cycle)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vyasa
• Yakshas
• Naimisharanya

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva’s sovereignty over time and sacred knowledge: the Lord can manifest in specific ages as the guiding Vyāsa, ensuring dharma and liberating wisdom remain accessible for beings.

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

By naming Śiva as Śūlī (the trident-bearing Lord), it points to Saguna Shiva—worshipped with form and attributes—who compassionately appears in history to guide devotees toward the formless (Nirguna) truth.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse implicitly commends Mahāyoga: steady meditation on Śiva (Śūlī) with japa of the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” supported by Shaiva disciplines like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as aids to remembrance.