Shloka 2

द्विजेश्वरावतारः

The Manifestation of Shiva as Dvijeśvara

Devanagari script

यः पूर्वं वर्णितस्तात भद्रायुर्नृपसत्तमः । यस्मिन्नृषभरूपेणानुग्रहं कृतवाञ्छिवः

Transliteration

yaḥ pūrvaṃ varṇitastāta bhadrāyurnṛpasattamaḥ | yasminnṛṣabharūpeṇānugrahaṃ kṛtavāñchivaḥ

Translation

愛しき子よ、先に語られたバドラーユ—王たちの中の最勝者—こそ、かつてシヴァが牡牛リシャバの姿をとって慈悲の恩寵を授けたその人である。

Word by Word

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पूर्वम्: previously
• पूर्वम्: Avyaya (अव्यय/Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-नपुंसक)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: previously)

• वर्णितः: described
• वर्णितः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्णित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; वर्ण् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त/कर्मणि क्त (past passive participle)

• तात: dear one/son
• तात: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• भद्रायुः: Bhadrāyu (proper name)
• भद्रायुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्रायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (भद्रः आयुः यस्य/भद्रं आयुः)

• नृप-सत्तमः: the best of kings
• नृप-सत्तमः: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (नृपाणां सत्तमः = best of kings)

• यस्मिन्: in whom
• यस्मिन्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ऋषभ-रूपेण: in the form of a bull
• ऋषभ-रूपेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषभ + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (ऋषभस्य रूपम्)

• अनुग्रहम्: favor, grace
• अनुग्रहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कृतवान्: did/bestowed
• कृतवान्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृतवत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; कृ धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्तवतु-प्रत्यय (past active participle); परोक्षभूतार्थे ‘कृतवान्’ = has done

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Highlights Śiva’s compassionate intervention for a righteous king; reinforces the Siddhānta theme that liberation/fortune ultimately depends on Śiva’s anugraha rather than mere human effort.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Bhadrayu

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva’s anugraha (saving grace): when devotion and receptivity mature, the Lord willingly assumes a perceivable (saguṇa) form and uplifts the devotee, showing that liberation is ultimately secured by Śiva’s compassion.

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

The verse emphasizes saguṇa revelation—Śiva becoming accessible through a form (here, a bull). Likewise, the Liṅga is a sacred, worshipful presence through which devotees approach the transcendent Lord and receive His grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate bhakti and remembrance of Śiva—especially japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—as the inner discipline that prepares one to receive Śiva’s anugraha.