Shloka 50

एकोनविंशतिशिवावतारवर्णनम्

Description of the Nineteen Manifestations/Avatāras of Śiva

Devanagari script

योगिनो ब्राह्मणा वेदपारगा ऊर्द्ध्वरेतसः । प्राप्य माहेश्वरं योगं गमिष्यंति शिवं पुरम्

Transliteration

yogino brāhmaṇā vedapāragā ūrddhvaretasaḥ | prāpya māheśvaraṃ yogaṃ gamiṣyaṃti śivaṃ puram

Translation

Yogins—Brahmanas who have crossed to the far shore of the Vedas and who preserve their vital energy—having attained Maheshvara’s Yoga, will go to Shiva’s own city (abode).

Word by Word

• योगिनः: yogins
• योगिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ब्राह्मणाः: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; योगिनः इत्यस्य समानाधिकरण (apposition)

• वेदपारगाः: versed in the Vedas
• वेदपारगाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद + पारग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वेदस्य पारगः = one who has gone to the far shore of the Veda), विशेषण

• ऊर्द्ध्वरेतसः: celibate/continent
• ऊर्द्ध्वरेतसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऊर्द्ध्व + रेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि (ऊर्द्ध्वं रेतः यस्य = one whose semen/energy is upward; celibate), विशेषण

• प्राप्य: having attained
• प्राप्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (having obtained)

• माहेश्वरम्: Maheśvara-related
• माहेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: माहेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; योगम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषण

• योगम्: yoga
• योगम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• गमिष्यन्ति: will go
• गमिष्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (simple future), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• शिवम्: Śiva’s
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; पुरम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषण

• पुरम्: city
• पुरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s teachings/glories to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; it is a soteriological promise: qualified yogin-brāhmaṇas attaining ‘Māheśvara yoga’ reach Śiva’s abode (śiva-pura).

Significance: Defines the fruit (phala) of Māheśvara yoga—transcendent attainment—functioning as a doctrinal ‘pilgrimage’ to Śiva’s realm rather than a geographic one.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It declares that mastery of sacred knowledge joined with inner discipline culminates in “Maheshvara Yoga”—union granted by Shiva’s grace—by which the seeker transcends bondage and attains Shiva’s abode (Shiva-loka).

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

Maheshvara Yoga is commonly approached through Saguna upasana—devotion to Shiva with form, especially Linga worship—where mantra, purity, and contemplation mature into Shiva’s bestowal of liberating union.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse points to disciplined yoga with brahmacharya (ūrddhvaretas), steady meditation on Shiva, and mantra-japa (classically the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), supported by Shaiva marks like bhasma (Tripundra) and rudraksha where applicable.