Shloka 8

एकोनविंशतिशिवावतारवर्णनम्

Description of the Nineteen Manifestations/Avatāras of Śiva

Devanagari script

त्रयोदशे युगे तस्मिन्धर्मो नारायणः सदा । व्यासस्तदाहं भविता बलिर्नाम महामुनिः

Transliteration

trayodaśe yuge tasmindharmo nārāyaṇaḥ sadā | vyāsastadāhaṃ bhavitā balirnāma mahāmuniḥ

Translation

In that thirteenth age, Dharma will ever be Nārāyaṇa; and at that time I shall become the Vyāsa—the great sage named Bali.

Word by Word

• त्रयोदशे: in the thirteenth
• त्रयोदशे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: trayodaśa (संख्याशब्द-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative/7th), एकवचनम्; संख्याविशेषणम् (to युगे)

• युगे: age (yuga)
• युगे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• तस्मिन्: in that
• तस्मिन्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम-विशेषणम् (to युगे)

• धर्मः: Dharma
• धर्मः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• नारायणः: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; धर्मस्य विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन्

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्ययम् (temporal adverb)

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

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्ययम् (then)

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

• भविता: will become
• भविता: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-कालिकः कर्तरि कृदन्तः (future agent noun/participle); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; अर्थः—‘भविष्यामि/भविष्यति’ (will become)

• बलिः: Bali
• बलिः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; नाम

• नाम: by name
• नाम: Viśeṣaṇa-sūcaka (विशेषण-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: नाम-शब्दः अव्ययरूपेण (indeclinable marker ‘by name’)

• महामुनिः: a great sage
• महामुनिः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमासः (महान् मुनिः); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Yuga-cycle succession (trayodaśa-yuga) and Vyāsa-rotation

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Dharma
• Vyasa
• Bali

FAQs

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

The verse presents Shiva’s oversight of cosmic time: Dharma is upheld in each age, and even the role of Vyāsa (the preserver of scripture and right understanding) is divinely appointed—supporting the Shaiva view that Pati (Shiva) governs the moral and spiritual order that leads souls toward liberation.

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

Though it names Nārāyaṇa as Dharma in that age, the speaker (Shiva) frames the yuga-order and the coming of Vyāsa, indicating that all sustaining powers function under Shiva’s supreme governance; Linga-worship aligns the devotee with that supreme Pati who regulates Dharma and grants right knowledge through sages.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is adherence to Dharma supported by scriptural study (as preserved by Vyāsa) and steady devotion; a Shaiva practitioner may pair this with daily Panchākṣara japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") to stabilize conduct and insight across changing times.