Shloka 13

Bhairavaśāpavṛttāntaḥ

The Episode of Bhairava’s Curse and Consolation

Devanagari script

महेशाह्वः शिवश्चासीच्छारदा गिरिजा मुने । सुलीलां चक्रतुः प्रीत्या नाना लीला विशारदौ

Transliteration

maheśāhvaḥ śivaścāsīcchāradā girijā mune | sulīlāṃ cakratuḥ prītyā nānā līlā viśāradau

Translation

أيها الحكيم، إنّ شيفا المسمّى «ماهيشا»، ومعه جيريجا المُبجَّلة باسم «شارَدا»، قد أدّيا بفرحٍ ليلًا بهيّة؛ إذ كانا كليهما بارعين في شتّى اللِّيلات.

Word by Word

• महेश-आह्वः: named 'Maheśa'
• महेश-आह्वः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महेश (प्रातिपदिक) + आह्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष ('called Maheśa'); विशेषण (शिवस्य)

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• आसीत्: was/became
• आसीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• शारदा: Śāradā
• शारदा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शारदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• गिरिजा: Girijā (daughter of the mountain)
• गिरिजा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरिजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; शारदायाः विशेषण/समनाम

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• सु-लीलाम्: a very beautiful play/sport
• सु-लीलाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'सु-' उपसर्गसदृश-पूर्वपद; कर्म

• चक्रतुः: they did/performed
• चक्रतुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), द्विवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्रीत्या: with love
• प्रीत्या: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; हेतौ/साधनभावे (by/with affection)

• नाना: various
• नाना: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाना (अव्यय)
• Form: विशेषणार्थक अव्यय (indeclinable adjective: various)

• लीलाः: sports/plays
• लीलाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (object of 'performed')

• विशारदौ: both skilled/expert
• विशारदौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विशेषण (शिव-शारदयोः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse names Śiva as ‘Maheśa’ and Pārvatī as ‘Śāradā/Girijā’, emphasizing their voluntary assumption of roles/names in līlā—typical of Purāṇic theophany rather than a fixed shrine-etiology.

Significance: Contemplation of the divine couple’s līlā supports bhakti and loosens egoic grasping; in Siddhānta terms, it helps the paśu turn toward Pati, making anugraha efficacious.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: līlā as divine self-veiling (tirodhāna) through names/roles while remaining supreme

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It highlights that the Lord and Śakti (Śiva and Girijā) reveal dharma and grace through līlā—divine play—so devotees can approach the supreme Pati in a personal, love-filled (saguṇa) way that matures into liberation.

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

By emphasizing Śiva’s accessible, manifest activity with Girijā, it supports saguṇa-upāsanā: devotees worship Śiva in form—often through the Liṅga—as the compassionate Lord who engages the world for the uplift of beings.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is joyful bhakti with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while offering water/bilva to the Liṅga, contemplating Śiva and Pārvatī as the inseparable Lord-and-Grace behind all auspicious play.