Shloka 53

भैरवावतारवर्णनम् (Bhairavāvatāra-varṇanam) — “Description of the Descent/Manifestation of Bhairava”

Devanagari script

यदंगमपराध्नोति कार्यं तस्यैव शासनम् । अतो येन कृता निन्दा तच्छिन्नम्पञ्चमं शिरः

Transliteration

yadaṃgamaparādhnoti kāryaṃ tasyaiva śāsanam | ato yena kṛtā nindā tacchinnampañcamaṃ śiraḥ

Translation

Wenn ein Glied ein Vergehen begeht, gilt die Strafe eben diesem Glied. Daher wurde das fünfte Haupt dessen, der die Lästerung ausgesprochen hatte, abgeschlagen.

Word by Word

• यत्: whatever/that which
• यत्: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक सापेक्ष-सर्वनाम (that which)

• अङ्गम्: a limb/part
• अङ्गम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• अपराध्नोति: commits an offense
• अपराध्नोति: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अपराध् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कार्यम्: the proper act
• कार्यम्: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक; कृ-धातोः यत्-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय (what is to be done)

• तस्य: of that (offender)
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Particle/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक (only/indeed)

• शासनम्: punishment/discipline
• शासनम्: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शासन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: सम्बन्ध (Logical connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक अव्यय (therefore)

• येन: by whom
• येन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (by whom/whereby)

• कृता: done/committed
• कृता: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) → कृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृत् (past passive participle: done/made)

• निन्दा: insult/blame
• निन्दा: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निन्दा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तत्-छिन्नम्: that was cut off
• तत्-छिन्नम्: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + छिन्न (प्रातिपदिक; छिद्-धातोः क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (that-cut/off)

• पञ्चमम्: fifth
• पञ्चमम्: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक विशेषण (ordinal)

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It teaches that adharma is corrected precisely at its source: when ego or wrongdoing manifests through a specific faculty, divine discipline targets that very instrument, guiding the soul back toward Shiva (Pati) and right conduct.

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

As Saguna Shiva, the Lord protects dharma and removes arrogance that breeds slander; Linga-worship emphasizes humility and reverence, the opposite of nindā, aligning the devotee’s speech and mind with Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Guard speech through japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and cultivate reverence; avoid nindā as a core vrata, supporting purity for worship with bhasma (Tripundra) and Rudra-japa.