Shloka 14

Daśa-Śivāvatāra-Nirūpaṇa

Enumeration of Ten Prime Manifestations of Śiva with Their Śaktis

Devanagari script

एतद्दशावताराणां माहात्म्यं वर्णितं मुने । सर्वकामप्रदं ज्ञेयं तंत्रशास्त्रादिगर्भितम्

Transliteration

etaddaśāvatārāṇāṃ māhātmyaṃ varṇitaṃ mune | sarvakāmapradaṃ jñeyaṃ taṃtraśāstrādigarbhitam

Translation

Ô sage, ainsi a été exposée la gloire de ces dix manifestations divines. Sache qu’elle accorde tous les buts légitimes et qu’elle est imprégnée de l’essence du Tantra, des Śāstra et des enseignements sacrés apparentés.

Word by Word

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally

• दशावताराणाम्: of the ten incarnations
• दशावताराणाम्: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa + avatāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन; समासः—द्विगु (संख्यापूर्वक-समाहार/निर्देश)

• माहात्म्यम्: greatness, glory
• माहात्म्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māhātmya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• वर्णितम्: has been described
• वर्णितम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √varṇ (वर्ण् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), भूतकर्मणि/कर्मणि प्रयोग; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; past passive participle—“described”

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन

• सर्वकामप्रदम्: granting all desires
• सर्वकामप्रदम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva + kāma + prada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-प्रायः: “सर्वेषां कामानां प्रदम्”)

• ज्ञेयम्: should be known
• ज्ञेयम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jñā (ज्ञा धातु) + ya (य)
• Form: कृदन्त (तव्यत्/य-प्रत्ययार्थक), विधेय/कर्तव्यार्थ: “to be known”; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तन्त्रशास्त्रादिगर्भितम्: containing tantra, śāstra, etc.
• तन्त्रशास्त्रादिगर्भितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tantra + śāstra + ādi + garbhita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (अव्ययीभाव-प्राय ‘आदि’ सहित; अर्थः “तन्त्र-शास्त्र-आदि-गर्भितम्” = containing tantra, śāstra, etc.)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It declares that hearing and understanding the glory of Shiva’s ten manifestations is spiritually fruitful—supporting worldly aims while ultimately orienting the devotee toward purification and liberation through right knowledge and devotion.

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

By praising Shiva’s manifested forms, it affirms saguna-upāsanā as a valid path: devotion to Shiva’s forms (including Linga worship) becomes a scripturally grounded means to receive grace and progress toward the formless truth.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is śravaṇa and manana—devotional listening/recitation of the mahatmya with reverence, followed by contemplation; it can be paired with japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” as a Shaiva Siddhanta-aligned takeaway.