Shloka 37

एकोनविंशतिशिवावतारवर्णनम्

Description of the Nineteen Manifestations/Avatāras of Śiva

Devanagari script

पंचविंशे यदा व्यासः शक्तिर्नाम्ना भविष्यति । तदाप्यहं महायोगी दण्डी मुण्डीश्वरः प्रभुः

Transliteration

paṃcaviṃśe yadā vyāsaḥ śaktirnāmnā bhaviṣyati | tadāpyahaṃ mahāyogī daṇḍī muṇḍīśvaraḥ prabhuḥ

Translation

When, in the twenty-fifth age, the Vyāsa will be known by the name Śakti, then I too shall manifest as the great Yogin—the Lord Daṇḍī, Muṇḍīśvara, the Sovereign.

Word by Word

• पञ्चविंशे: in the twenty-fifth (age/period)
• पञ्चविंशे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चविंश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative/7th), एकवचनम्; द्विगु-समासः (पञ्च च विंशतिः)

• यदा: when
• यदा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; कालवाचक-सम्बन्धबोधकः (temporal conjunction: 'when')

• व्यासः: Vyāsa
• व्यासः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• शक्तिः: Śakti (name)
• शक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• नाम्ना: by name
• नाम्ना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचनम्

• भविष्यति: will be/become
• भविष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकारः (Simple Future), प्रथम-पुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; कालवाचक-अव्ययम् (then)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; निपातः (particle: also/even)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम; प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• महायोगी: a great yogin
• महायोगी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (महान् योगी)

• दण्डी: staff-bearer (ascetic with a staff)
• दण्डी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्डिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; -इन्-प्रत्ययान्त

• मुण्डीश्वरः: lord of the shaven-headed (ascetics)
• मुण्डीश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुण्डिन् (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (मुण्डिनाम् ईश्वरः / मुण्डी-ईश्वरः)

• प्रभुः: the Lord/master
• प्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse is part of a prophetic catalog of future Vyāsas and Śiva’s corresponding manifestations; it does not anchor itself to a specific Jyotirliṅga-sthala narrative.

Significance: Emphasizes Śiva’s continuing availability as Guru (mahāyogī) across ages—pilgrimage as seeking living instruction and grace rather than only place-based merit.

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Yuga/age-cycle forecasting (future Vyāsa succession)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vyasa
• Shakti

FAQs

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

It presents Shiva as the timeless Pati (Lord) who repeatedly manifests in specific forms to steady dharma and guide beings through yoga toward liberation, even as the Vyāsa-line changes with the ages.

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

By naming Shiva’s concrete form-titles (Daṇḍī, Muṇḍīśvara), the verse supports Saguna-upāsanā—devotion to Shiva with attributes—through which devotees approach the formless (Nirguṇa) reality symbolized by the Liṅga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as Mahāyogī—steady breath and mind, repeat the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and cultivate ascetic virtues (restraint, simplicity) symbolized by the staff-bearing Daṇḍī form.