Shloka 40

द्विजेश्वरावतारः

The Manifestation of Shiva as Dvijeśvara

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मण उवाच । आस्तां ब्रह्मवधं घोरमपि मद्यनिषेवणम् । तपसा विधमिष्यामि किं पुनः पारदारिकम्

Transliteration

brāhmaṇa uvāca | āstāṃ brahmavadhaṃ ghoramapi madyaniṣevaṇam | tapasā vidhamiṣyāmi kiṃ punaḥ pāradārikam

Translation

ബ്രാഹ്മണൻ പറഞ്ഞു: ‘ഭീകരമായ ബ്രഹ്മഹത്യാപാപവും മദ്യപാനദോഷവും പോലും ഇരിക്കട്ടെ; തപസ്സാൽ അവയെ ഞാൻ നശിപ്പിക്കും—അപ്പോൾ പരസ്ത്രീഗമനപാപം എത്രയോ അധികം (നശിക്കുമല്ലോ)!’

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मणः: the Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; वक्ता

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• आस्ताम्: let (it) be; enough of
• आस्ताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; अर्थः = let it be/leave it aside

• ब्रह्म-वधम्: Brahmin-slaying
• ब्रह्म-वधम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + वध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मणः वधः)

• घोरम्: terrible
• घोरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (to ब्रह्मवधम्)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• मद्य-निषेवणम्: drinking liquor
• मद्य-निषेवणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मद्य + निषेवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (मद्यस्य निषेवणम्)

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• विधमिष्यामि: I will remove/destroy
• विधमिष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-धम् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; अर्थः = I will shake off/destroy

• किम्: what (then)
• किम्: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रश्नार्थक (interrogative particle used adverbially)

• पुनः: then/moreover
• पुनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय (adverb: again/then)

• पार-दारिकम्: adultery (with another’s wife)
• पार-दारिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर + दार + इक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष/तद्धितान्त (पारदारिक = relating to another’s wife; ‘adultery’)

Speaker

Brāhmaṇa

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

FAQs

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

It asserts the purificatory power of tapas (austerity) to burn away even grave karmic impurities, emphasizing inner discipline and repentance as a means to restore dharma and move toward Shiva’s grace.

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

In Shaiva practice, true Linga-worship is supported by śuddhi (purity) and self-restraint; the verse frames tapas as a purifier that prepares the devotee to approach Saguna Shiva with integrity and receive upliftment.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Tapas is primary—practical takeaways include disciplined vows, mantra-japa (especially the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and Shaiva purificatory observances such as vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) and regulated conduct.