Shloka 2

Śivāṣṭamūrti-varṇanam

Description of Shiva’s Eight Forms

Devanagari script

इति श्रीशिवमहापुराणे तृतीयायां शतरुद्रसंहितायां शिवाष्टमूर्त्तिवर्णनं नाम द्वितीयोऽध्यायः

Transliteration

iti śrīśivamahāpurāṇe tṛtīyāyāṃ śatarudrasaṃhitāyāṃ śivāṣṭamūrttivarṇanaṃ nāma dvitīyo'dhyāyaḥ

Translation

Sa gayon nagtatapos ang ikalawang kabanata, na tinatawag na “Paglalarawan ng Walong Anyo ni Śiva,” sa ikatlong bahagi ng banal na Śiva Mahāpurāṇa, ang Śatarudra Saṃhitā.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: समाप्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative/closure particle)

• श्रीशिवमहापुराणे: in the Śrī Śiva Mahāpurāṇa
• श्रीशिवमहापुराणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री + शिव + महापुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः (बहुपद-तत्पुरुषप्रायः): श्री-शिव-महा-पुराण

• तृतीयायाम्: in the third
• तृतीयायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृतीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (संहितायाम्)

• शतरुद्रसंहितायाम्: in the Śatarudra-saṃhitā
• शतरुद्रसंहितायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शतरुद्र + संहिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः शतरुद्रस्य संहिता (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

• शिवाष्टमूर्त्तिवर्णनम्: the description of Śiva’s eight forms
• शिवाष्टमूर्त्तिवर्णनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + अष्टमूर्ति + वर्णन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः शिवस्य अष्टमूर्तेः वर्णनम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

• नाम: named
• नाम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: संज्ञावाचक-अव्यय (indeclinable used to mark title: 'named')

• द्वितीयः: second
• द्वितीयः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वितीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (अध्यायः)

• अध्यायः: chapter
• अध्यायः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

This is the chapter-colophon marking the completion of a teaching on Shiva’s Aṣṭamūrti, guiding devotees to recognize Shiva’s divine presence pervading the cosmos through His manifest (saguṇa) forms.

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

By naming the topic “Śivāṣṭamūrti-varṇana,” it frames Saguna contemplation: the Linga signifies Shiva as the supreme Pati, while the Aṣṭamūrti explains how that same Lord is worshipped as immanent in the elements and cosmic functions.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is Aṣṭamūrti-dhyāna—mentally worship Shiva as present in nature and all beings, supporting Linga-pūjā with remembrance, japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and reverent awareness of His all-pervading forms.