Shloka 38
भैरवावतारलीलावर्णनम् (Bhairava-avatāra-līlā-varṇanam) — “Narration of the Divine Play of Bhairava’s Descent”
परमात्मन्परन्धाम स्वेच्छाभिधृतविग्रह । कुतूहलं तवेशेदं कृपणाधीनतेश्वर
paramātmanparandhāma svecchābhidhṛtavigraha | kutūhalaṃ taveśedaṃ kṛpaṇādhīnateśvara
O höchstes Selbst, o erhabenste Wohnstatt, o Herr, der aus freiem Willen Gestalt annimmt: Warum, o Īśa, ist diese Neugier in Dir, als wärest Du von einem hilflosen Armen abhängig, o souveräner Gebieter?
A devotee/supplicant addressing Lord Shiva (as narrated by Suta Goswami in the Shatarudra Samhita context)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse is a theological address highlighting Śiva’s svātantrya (free will) and the paradox of divine ‘curiosity’—often explained as līlā and as tirodhāna/anugraha interplay.
Significance: Encourages contemplative pilgrimage of understanding: the Lord appears ‘as if dependent’ on the devotee, revealing intimacy of grace despite absolute sovereignty.
Type: stotra
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse emphasizes Shiva as Paramatman—fully sovereign and self-sufficient—who takes a manifest form (saguna) only by His own will, not due to any external compulsion; it corrects the devotee’s doubt by affirming the Lord’s absolute freedom and grace.
By stating that the Lord ‘assumes form by His own will,’ it supports saguna worship—Linga and divine forms are compassionate self-manifestations for devotees, while Shiva remains the transcendent Supreme even when approached through icons and rituals.
The takeaway is humble surrender (śaraṇāgati) and steady japa—especially the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—approaching Shiva’s form (Linga) with trust in His grace rather than doubt about His motives.