Shloka 6

शिवस्य पञ्चब्रह्मावतारवर्णनम्

Description of Shiva’s Pañcabrahma Avatāras

Devanagari script

तस्मिंस्तत्परमं ब्रह्म ध्यायतो ब्रह्मणस्तथा । उत्पन्नस्तु शिखायुक्तः कुमारः श्वेतलोहितः

Transliteration

tasmiṃstatparamaṃ brahma dhyāyato brahmaṇastathā | utpannastu śikhāyuktaḥ kumāraḥ śvetalohitaḥ

Translation

Mientras Brahmā meditaba en el Brahman supremo, surgió un joven ser divino—Śvetalohita—adornado con moño en la coronilla, de fulgor radiante, nacido de la contemplación de la Realidad más alta.

Word by Word

• तस्मिन्: in that (state/place)
• तस्मिन्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (ब्रह्म इत्यस्य विशेषण)

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (ब्रह्म इत्यस्य विशेषण)

• ब्रह्म: Brahman / the Absolute
• ब्रह्म: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• ध्यायतः: of (him) meditating
• ध्यायतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त (Present participle), परस्मैपदी; षष्ठी (6th) एकवचन—‘of (one) meditating’

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (ब्रह्मा), षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• तथा: thus / likewise
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• उत्पन्नः: arose / was born
• उत्पन्नः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत् + पद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तु: indeed / then
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (particle)

• शिखा-युक्तः: endowed with a topknot
• शिखा-युक्तः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिखा (प्रातिपदिक) + युक्त (युज् धातु, क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: ‘शिखया युक्तः’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कुमारः: a youth / boy
• कुमारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• श्वेत-लोहितः: white and red (in hue)
• श्वेत-लोहितः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्वेत (प्रातिपदिक) + लोहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व (itaretara): ‘श्वेतश्च लोहितश्च’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: manifestation of Śiva’s immediate form (Sadyojāta/Śvetalohita) from Brahmā’s contemplation

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Shvetalohita

FAQs

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

It presents a key Shaiva theme: when the mind is absorbed in the Supreme (Brahman), the highest Reality can become experientially ‘manifest’—here as Śvetalohita—showing the bridge from transcendence to a perceivable divine form.

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

Meditation on the Supreme Brahman culminates in a Saguna revelation (a form with attributes). This supports Shiva Purana practice: the formless Absolute is approached through worshipful forms—such as the Linga—without denying the transcendence behind them.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Focused dhyāna on the Supreme Shiva-principle (Pati) is implied—steady contemplation that can be supported by japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined yogic concentration.