Shloka 3

Bhaimaśaṅkara-māhātmya: Śiva’s Descent in Kāmarūpa and the Rise of Bhīma

Devanagari script

यदर्थमवतीर्णोसौ शंकरो लोकशंकरः । शृणुतादरतस्तच्च कथयामि मुनीश्वराः

Transliteration

yadarthamavatīrṇosau śaṃkaro lokaśaṃkaraḥ | śṛṇutādaratastacca kathayāmi munīśvarāḥ

Translation

For what purpose Śaṅkara—who bestows auspiciousness upon the worlds—has descended, listen with reverent attentiveness; I shall narrate it to you, O lordly sages.

Word by Word

• यत्-अर्थम्: for what purpose
• यत्-अर्थम्: प्रयोजन (Prayojana/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; ‘यस्य अर्थम्’ = ‘for which purpose’

• अवतीर्णः: having descended
• अवतीर्णः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-तॄ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• असौ: that one (he)
• असौ: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• शंकरः: Śaṅkara
• शंकरः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• लोक-शंकरः: benefactor of the world
• लोक-शंकरः: सम्बोधन/विशेषण (Appositional epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; उपाधि—‘लोकस्य शंकरः’ (benefactor of the world)

• शृणुत: listen
• शृणुत: आज्ञा/प्रवर्तन (Imperative to listener)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकारः (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुषः (2nd person), बहुवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• आदरात्: with attention, respectfully
• आदरात्: हेतु/प्रकार (Adverbial cause/manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः (5th/Ablative), एकवचनम्; अव्ययीभावार्थे—‘आदरात्’ = ‘with respect/earnestly’ (adverbial)

• तत्: that (matter)
• तत्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• कथयामि: I tell
• कथयामि: कर्ता (Kartā/Speaker)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथय् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), उत्तमपुरुषः (1st person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• मुनीश्वराः: O lords among sages
• मुनीश्वराः: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; संबोधनार्थे (vocative sense though form = nominative plural)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Bhīmaśaṃkara

Sthala Purana: Narrative hinge: Sūta invites the sages to hear the specific purpose (yad-artham) of Śiva’s manifestation as loka-śaṃkara, preparing for the origin episode that grounds the shrine’s sanctity.

Significance: Encourages attentive śravaṇa (ādara) as a devotional act; positions the forthcoming origin story as a means to receive auspiciousness and merit.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse frames Śiva’s manifestation as purposive and compassionate: Śaṅkara descends for loka-kalyāṇa (the auspicious welfare of the worlds), and the proper response is reverent listening (śravaṇa) that matures into devotion and liberation.

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

By calling him Śaṅkara and loka-śaṃkara, the verse points to Saguna Śiva—Śiva who graciously becomes accessible through forms and sacred narratives. In Kotirudra context, such manifestation aligns with Jyotirliṅga glory, where the formless Supreme is worshipped through the liṅga as a merciful, world-blessing presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It emphasizes śravaṇa (devotional listening) with ādarā (reverence). As a practical takeaway, devotees can listen to or recite Śiva-kathā and support it with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—especially on Mahāśivarātri.