Shloka 57
एकोनविंशतिशिवावतारवर्णनम्
Description of the Nineteen Manifestations/Avatāras of Śiva
इत्येतद्वै मया प्रोक्तमवतारेषु लक्षणम् । मन्वादिकृष्णपर्यन्तमष्टाविंशद्युगक्रमात्
ityetadvai mayā proktamavatāreṣu lakṣaṇam | manvādikṛṣṇaparyantamaṣṭāviṃśadyugakramāt
Assim, de fato declarei os sinais distintivos das descidas divinas. Segundo a sucessão ordenada dos vinte e oito yugas, (este relato se estende) desde a era de Manu até (o advento de) Kṛṣṇa.
Suta Goswami
Cosmic Event: yuga-krama (ordered succession of ages)
FAQs
It closes a teaching section by affirming that divine descents have recognizable “lakṣaṇas” (marks) and that sacred history unfolds in an ordered yuga-sequence—helping the devotee discern Shiva’s guiding presence through time while remembering He ultimately transcends time.
By emphasizing “avatāra-lakṣaṇa,” it supports Saguna worship—recognizing the Lord’s accessible forms in history—while Shaiva Siddhanta holds that the same Shiva is worshipped as the Linga, the timeless Pati who manifests compassionately for devotees in various ages.
A practical takeaway is japa with the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while contemplating Shiva as the inner ruler across all yugas; this steadies devotion beyond changing times and narratives.