Shloka 17

एकोनविंशतिशिवावतारवर्णनम्

Description of the Nineteen Manifestations/Avatāras of Śiva

Devanagari script

काश्यपोप्युशनाश्चैव च्यवनोऽथ बृहस्पतिः । तेपि तेनैव मार्गेण गमिष्यन्ति शिवालयम्

Transliteration

kāśyapopyuśanāścaiva cyavano'tha bṛhaspatiḥ | tepi tenaiva mārgeṇa gamiṣyanti śivālayam

Translation

కాశ్యపుడు, ఉశనా (శుక్రుడు), చ్యవనుడు మరియు బృహస్పతియు—వారూ అదే మార్గమున సాగి శివాలయాన్ని చేరుదురు।

Word by Word

• kāśyapaḥ: Kaśyapa
• kāśyapaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāśyapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (1st/प्रथमा, sg.)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अपि = ‘also/even’ (particle)

• uśanāḥ: Uśanā (Śukra)
• uśanāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uśanā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (1st/प्रथमा, sg.)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• cyavanaḥ: Cyavana
• cyavanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cyavana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (1st/प्रथमा, sg.)

• atha: then; and also
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (sequencing particle)

• bṛhaspatiḥ: Bṛhaspati
• bṛhaspatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bṛhaspati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (1st/प्रथमा, sg.)

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन (1st/प्रथमा, pl.); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, ‘also’

• tena: by that; through that
• tena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया एकवचन (3rd/तृतीया, sg.); ‘by that/with that’

• eva: indeed; just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण (emphasis)

• mārgeṇa: by the path; along the route
• mārgeṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन (3rd/तृतीया, sg.)

• gamiṣyanti: will go
• gamiṣyanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन (3rd person pl.), परस्मैपद

• śiva-ālayam: Śiva’s abode
• śiva-ālayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + ālaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpurusha), ‘śivasya ālayaḥ’ इति; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (2nd/द्वितीया, sg.)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kashyapa
• Ushana (Shukra)
• Cyavana
• Brihaspati

FAQs

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

It affirms the universality of Śiva’s saving path: even renowned sages and celestial preceptors attain Śiva’s abode by the same means, highlighting that liberation depends on Śiva’s grace and right devotion rather than status.

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

“Śivālaya” points to communion with Śiva as the supreme refuge; in practice, devotees approach Him through Saguna worship—especially Linga-upāsanā—by which the mind is purified and directed toward Śiva’s highest state.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Follow the shared Shaiva way: steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with devotion, supported by simple Linga worship (water/flowers) and, where appropriate, Tripuṇḍra bhasma and Rudrākṣa as aids to remembrance.