Shloka 48

एकोनविंशतिशिवावतारवर्णनम्

Description of the Nineteen Manifestations/Avatāras of Śiva

Devanagari script

कायावतार इत्येवं सिद्धक्षेत्रं परं तदा । भविष्यति सुविख्यातं यावद्भूमिर्धरिष्यति

Transliteration

kāyāvatāra ityevaṃ siddhakṣetraṃ paraṃ tadā | bhaviṣyati suvikhyātaṃ yāvadbhūmirdhariṣyati

Translation

Thus, that supreme sacred Siddha-kṣetra will then be known as “Kāyāvatāra,” and it will remain renowned for as long as the earth endures.

Word by Word

• काय-अवतारः: (the name) ‘Kāyāvatāra’
• काय-अवतारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काय (प्रातिपदिक) + अवतार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्ता/नाम (subject/predicate term)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• एवम्: in this manner
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (manner adverb)

• सिद्ध-क्षेत्रम्: the accomplished/sacred field (holy place)
• सिद्ध-क्षेत्रम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्ता

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (to ‘सिद्धक्षेत्रम्’)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (time adverb)

• भविष्यति: will become
• भविष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future/लृट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• सु-विख्यातम्: well-renowned
• सु-विख्यातम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + विख्यात (प्रातिपदिक; √ख्यात)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (predicate adjective to ‘सिद्धक्षेत्रम्’)

• यावत्: as long as
• यावत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (correlative; ‘as long as’)

• भूमिः: the earth
• भूमिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्ता

• धरिष्यति: will bear/hold
• धरिष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future/लृट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shatarudrasaṃhitā account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse proclaims the enduring sanctity of a supreme Siddha-kṣetra named “Kāyāvatāra,” affirming that Shiva’s consecrated spaces preserve their liberating potency and renown for the entire span of worldly time.

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

By declaring a Siddha-kṣetra’s lasting fame, the text reinforces Saguna Shiva’s grace manifesting through place, ritual, and sacred presence—where devotees approach Shiva through tangible means (tīrtha, shrine, and worship) while aiming for the highest realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is tīrtha-yātrā with Shaiva devotion—worship of Shiva (especially Linga-arcana), japa of the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and disciplined purity (bhasma/rudrākṣa observances where customary) to receive siddhi and spiritual upliftment.