Shloka 6

एकोनविंशतिशिवावतारवर्णनम्

Description of the Nineteen Manifestations/Avatāras of Śiva

Devanagari script

हेमकंचुकमासाद्य नाम्ना ह्यत्रिः परिप्लुतः । व्यासस्यैव साहाय्यार्थं निवृत्तिपथरोषणः

Transliteration

hemakaṃcukamāsādya nāmnā hyatriḥ pariplutaḥ | vyāsasyaiva sāhāyyārthaṃ nivṛttipatharoṣaṇaḥ

Translation

Having obtained the golden cuirass, Atri—his name now renowned—became fully empowered; and, for the very purpose of assisting Vyāsa, he was made ardent in the path of nivṛtti (renunciation), intent on spiritual withdrawal toward liberation under Śiva’s grace.

Word by Word

• hema-kaṃcukam: the golden cuirass/coat
• hema-kaṃcukam: Karma (कर्म/object of āsādya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hema (प्रातिपदिक) + kaṃcuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (हेमस्य कंचुकम्)

• āsādya: having obtained/reached
• āsādya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/absolutive modifying main predication)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√sad (धातु) (आसाद्य)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), ‘having reached/obtained’

• nāmnā: by name
• nāmnā: Karaṇa (करण/instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; idiomatically ‘by name’

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle/emphasis (निपात)

• atriḥ: Atri (sage)
• atriḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: atri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• pariplutaḥ: was immersed/overwhelmed
• pariplutaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/predicate of atriḥ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-√plu (धातु) (प्लुत)
• Form: Past passive participle (कृत/क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; used predicatively

• vyāsasya: of Vyāsa
• vyāsasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• eva: only/indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), emphatic particle (निपात)

• sāhāyya-artham: for the purpose of assistance
• sāhāyya-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāhāyya (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter sense, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; purpose accusative; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (साहाय्यस्य अर्थः)

• nivṛtti-patha-roṣaṇaḥ: (one) whose wrath is directed toward the path of withdrawal/cessation
• nivṛtti-patha-roṣaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/appositive epithet of atriḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nivṛtti (प्रातिपदिक) + patha (प्रातिपदिक) + roṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; बहुव्रीहि-सम्भावना (‘whose anger is on the path of withdrawal’) but form used as epithet; here treated as tatpuruṣa title/epithet

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; it narrates empowerment of ṛṣi Atri for aiding Vyāsa, emphasizing nivṛtti (withdrawal) as a grace-enabled orientation.

Significance: Models the ideal of assisting dharma-teachers (Vyāsa) while personally pursuing nivṛtti—service (upakāra) aligned with liberation.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Atri
• Vyasa
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents Śiva’s grace as empowering a sage for dharmic service: Atri’s boon (the “golden armor”) symbolizes protection and inner strength, redirected toward nivṛtti—renunciation leading to liberation.

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

Though the Liṅga is not named here, the verse reflects Saguna Śiva’s role as bestower of boons that mature into vairāgya (dispassion), turning worldly power into a means for mokṣa-oriented service.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is nivṛtti-sādhana: cultivate renunciation through Śiva-bhakti and steady contemplation (japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” fits the Purāṇic Shaiva frame), using divine protection as support for inner withdrawal rather than indulgence.