Shloka 3

Śivāṣṭamūrti-varṇanam

Description of Shiva’s Eight Forms

Devanagari script

शर्वो भवस्तथा रुद्र उग्रो भीमः पशो पतिः । ईशानश्च महादेवो मूर्तयश्चाष्ट विश्रुताः

Transliteration

śarvo bhavastathā rudra ugro bhīmaḥ paśo patiḥ | īśānaśca mahādevo mūrtayaścāṣṭa viśrutāḥ

Translation

“舍婆（Śarva）”、“婆婆（Bhava）”、“鲁陀罗（Rudra）”、“乌伽罗（Ugra）”、“毗摩（Bhīma）”、“兽主（Paśupati）”、“伊舍那（Īśāna）”与“摩诃提婆（Mahādeva）”——此八者被宣说为主湿婆著名的八种显现（mūrti）；祂是至上的主宰（Pati），统御并解脱被缚之众生（paśu）。

Word by Word

• शर्वः: Śarva
• शर्वः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नाम (epithet)

• भवः: Bhava
• भवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नाम

• तथा: and also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (and/also/likewise)

• रुद्रः: Rudra
• रुद्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नाम

• उग्रः: Ugra
• उग्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नाम/विशेषणरूप-नाम

• भीमः: Bhīma
• भीमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नाम

• पशोः: of creatures
• पशोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पतिः: lord (Pati)
• पतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (पशोः पतिः = पशुपतिः)

• ईशानः: Īśāna
• ईशानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• महादेवः: Mahādeva
• महादेवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः महाः देवः (कर्मधारयः)

• मूर्तयः: forms
• मूर्तयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• अष्ट: eight
• अष्ट: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; अष्ट (indeclinable-like numeral) विशेषणम् (मूर्तयः)

• विश्रुताः: are renowned
• विश्रुताः: Kriya (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle) + वि-उपसर्ग; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विधेयविशेषणम् (मूर्तयः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: śarvo bhavastathā rudra ugro bhīmaḥ paśo patiḥ | īśānaśca mahādevo mūrtayaścāṣṭa viśrutāḥ

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that the one Supreme Shiva is worshipped through multiple Saguna manifestations—each name reveals a distinct divine function (rule, protection, dissolution, and grace) guiding the bound soul (paśu) toward liberation under the Lord (Pati).

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

The Linga is the unified symbol of Shiva’s transcendence, while these eight mūrtis are accessible Saguna modes contemplated in devotion; worship can be offered to the Linga while invoking these names as facets of the same Mahādeva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Japa and dhyāna on Shiva’s names—especially Paśupati and Mahādeva—supports devotion and surrender; practitioners may combine this with Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and Tripuṇḍra-bhasma as Shaiva daily observance.