Shloka 5

Śivāṣṭamūrti-varṇanam

Description of Shiva’s Eight Forms

Devanagari script

धत्ते चराचरं विश्वं रूपं विश्वंभरात्मकम् । शंकरस्य महेशस्य शास्त्रस्यैवेति निश्चयः

Transliteration

dhatte carācaraṃ viśvaṃ rūpaṃ viśvaṃbharātmakam | śaṃkarasya maheśasya śāstrasyaiveti niścayaḥ

Translation

圣教所定论：商羯罗（Śaṅkara）、大自在天（Maheśa）以能荷载万有之形，支撑整个宇宙——动者与不动者皆然。

Word by Word

• dhatte: supports/holds
• dhatte: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhā (धा धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• carācaram: the moving and the unmoving
• carācaram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cara-acara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (moving + unmoving), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• viśvam: the universe
• viśvam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• rūpam: form
• rūpam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); here appositional to viśvam (as its form)

• viśvaṃbhara-ātmakam: whose nature is ‘supporter of the universe’
• viśvaṃbhara-ātmakam: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viśvaṃbhara (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (viśvaṃbhara = ‘universe-bearing’ + ātmaka = ‘having the nature of’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); rūpam/viśvam-विशेषण (qualifier)

• śaṃkarasya: of Śaṅkara
• śaṃkarasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• maheśasya: of Maheśa
• maheśasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maheśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• śāstrasya: of the scripture/teaching
• śāstrasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāstra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (particle of emphasis/only)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: इति-उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• niścayaḥ: certainty/settled conclusion
• niścayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niścaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It affirms Maheśa (Śiva) as the ultimate support of all existence—mobile and immobile—guiding the devotee to see the world as sustained by Pati (the Lord), which strengthens surrender (śaraṇāgati) and devotion.

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

The verse highlights Śiva’s sustaining, manifest aspect (saguṇa). In Linga worship, the devotee venerates the formless-with-form symbol that represents the Lord who both transcends the cosmos and upholds it as its inner support.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple practice is dhyāna while chanting the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), contemplating Śiva as the inner sustainer of all beings; this can be paired with traditional Śaiva observances like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and rudrākṣa as aids to steady remembrance.