Shloka 46

एकोनविंशतिशिवावतारवर्णनम्

Description of the Nineteen Manifestations/Avatāras of Śiva

Devanagari script

श्मशाने मृतमुत्सृज्य दृष्ट्वा कायमनामयम् । ब्राह्मणानां हितार्थाय प्रविष्टो योगमायया

Transliteration

śmaśāne mṛtamutsṛjya dṛṣṭvā kāyamanāmayam | brāhmaṇānāṃ hitārthāya praviṣṭo yogamāyayā

Translation

Having cast off the dead body in the cremation-ground and beholding a body free from affliction, he—by Yogamāyā—entered it for the welfare of the brāhmaṇas.

Word by Word

• श्मशाने: in the cremation ground
• श्मशाने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्मशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• मृतम्: the dead body
• मृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत (प्रातिपदिक; √मृ से निष्पन्न)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म

• उत्सृज्य: having cast off
• उत्सृज्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत्-√सृज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having abandoned/cast off’

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having seen’

• कायम्: the body
• कायम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म

• अ-नामयम्: disease-free
• अ-नामयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (नञ्-उपसर्ग) + आमय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; नञ्-समासार्थक विशेषण (negating), ‘free from disease’

• ब्राह्मणानाम्: of the Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध

• हित-अर्थाय: for (their) welfare
• हित-अर्थाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; सम्प्रदान (purpose/for the sake of)

• प्रविष्टः: entered
• प्रविष्टः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-विश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘entered’

• योग-मायया: by yogic illusion/power
• योग-मायया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक) + माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण (instrument)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse frames a cremation-ground (śmaśāna) setting and a salvific ‘entry’ by Yogamāyā for the welfare of brāhmaṇas, typical of avatāra/mission narratives rather than liṅga-sthāna māhātmya.

Significance: Highlights śmaśāna as a liminal, transformative space where Śiva’s grace can override ordinary karmic limits for dharma-protection.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brāhmaṇas

FAQs

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

The verse uses the cremation-ground motif to teach vairāgya (dispassion): the body is transient, while Shiva’s śakti (Yogamāyā) can assume forms for dharma—here, specifically to protect and uplift the brāhmaṇas and sacred order.

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

By describing entry into a form through Yogamāyā, the Purana highlights Saguna Shiva—Shiva manifesting compassionately in perceivable forms for devotees—while implying the transcendent (beyond body) reality that Linga worship symbolizes.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests śmaśāna-smaraṇa (contemplation of impermanence) to cultivate detachment, along with steady devotion to Shiva through mantra-japa (especially the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) as the inner refuge beyond bodily change.