Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 55

भद्रस्य दिव्यरथारोहणं शङ्खनादश्च — Bhadra’s Divine Chariot-Ascent and the Conch-Blast

Devanagari script

तथा संछिन्नसर्वांगैस्स वीरस्त्रिदशैर्बभौ । परिग्रस्तप्रजावर्गो भगवानिव भैरवः

Transliteration

tathā saṃchinnasarvāṃgaissa vīrastridaśairbabhau | parigrastaprajāvargo bhagavāniva bhairavaḥ

Translation

وهكذا تلألأ ذلك البطل، تحيط به الآلهة الثلاثة والثلاثون وقد تكسّرت أعضاؤهم وتقطّعت—كأنّه الرب بهايرافا (Bhairava) نفسه—بينما كانت جموع الكائنات مقبوضًا عليها ومقهورةً بهيبةٍ ورهبة.

Word by Word

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) — ‘thus/so’

• संछिन्न-सर्व-अङ्गैः: with all limbs severed
• संछिन्न-सर्व-अङ्गैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सं-छिद् (धातु) + सर्व + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP) ‘संछिन्न’ + तत्पुरुषसमासः ‘सर्वाङ्ग’ (all-limbed); तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग-प्रयोगानुसार; अर्थः—‘with all limbs cut’

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वीरः: hero
• वीरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• त्रिदशैः: by the gods
• त्रिदशैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिदश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; ‘gods’

• बभौ: shone / appeared
• बभौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• परिग्रस्त-प्रजा-वर्गः: whose group of subjects was seized/overpowered
• परिग्रस्त-प्रजा-वर्गः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि-ग्रस् (धातु) + प्रजा + वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP) ‘परिग्रस्त’ + तत्पुरुषसमासः ‘प्रजावर्ग’ (group of subjects); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘भैरवः’)

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Upamana/Predicate (उपमान/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इव: like
• इव: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• भैरवः: Bhairava
• भैरवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भैरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Bhairava
• Shiva
• Tridaśas (the gods)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Bhairava as Saguna Shiva’s awe-inspiring power: when egoic forces and even celestial pride are broken, beings are “seized” into humility, opening the way for surrender to Pati (Shiva), the liberator from pasha (bondage).

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

Bhairava represents Saguna Shiva’s fierce grace that protects dharma and dissolves impurities; Linga-worship trains the mind to recognize the same Supreme Shiva—both tranquil and terrible—as the inner Lord beyond fear and delusion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Bhairava as Shiva’s protective form while repeating the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") to cultivate fearlessness and surrender; if aligned with one’s tradition, apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and practice steady japa to subdue agitation.