Shloka 24

Matsya Purana — Mahāgaurī’s Entry

Devanagari script

करुणाहास्यबीभत्सकिंचित्किंचिद्धरो ऽभवत् जिघांसुर्देववाक्येन भैरवं कृतवान्वपुः //

Transliteration

karuṇāhāsyabībhatsakiṃcitkiṃciddharo 'bhavat jighāṃsurdevavākyena bhairavaṃ kṛtavānvapuḥ //

Translation

Then Hara (Śiva) became of a mixed demeanor—partly compassionate, partly laughing, and partly terrible. Wishing to slay (the offender), and at the bidding of the gods, he assumed the body-form of Bhairava.

Word by Word

• करुणा (karuṇā): compassion

• हास्य (hāsya): laughter/mirth

• बीभत्स (bībhatsa): dreadful/repulsive/terrifying

• किंचित् किंचित् (kiṃcit kiṃcit): partly, in some measure

• हरः (haraḥ): Hara, Śiva

• अभवत् (abhavat): became

• जिघांसुः (jighāṃsuḥ): desiring to kill, intent on slaying

• देववाक्येन (devavākyena): by the word/command of the gods

• भैरवम् (bhairavam): Bhairava (the Terrible One, a fierce form of Śiva)

• कृतवान् (kṛtavān): made/assumed

• वपुः (vapuḥ): body, form

Speaker

• Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) describing the event to the sages (likely Śaunaka and others) within the Matsya Purana narrative frame

Entities Mentioned

• Hara (Shiva)
• Bhairava
• Devas (gods)

Tags

• Shaiva
• Bhairava
• Iconography
• Divine Wrath
• Dharma

FAQs

What does this verse reveal about the creation or dissolution (Pralaya)?

This verse is not about pralaya; it highlights a theophany—Śiva’s deliberate assumption of a fierce form (Bhairava) to restore order at the gods’ request.

How does this verse relate to the duties of a King or Householder?

It frames righteous punishment: even divine power acts under dharmic purpose—protecting cosmic order and restraining wrongdoing—mirroring a king’s duty to punish proportionately for social stability.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No explicit Vāstu rule appears, but the verse is iconographic: it supports Bhairava as a legitimate worship-form of Śiva, relevant to temple imagery, protective shrine placement, and Bhairava-oriented rites in Purāṇic practice.