Shloka 32

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

Devanagari script

राक्षसो गृहमागत्य ब्रह्माप्तातिबलस्तदा । मातरं प्रणिपत्याशु स भीमः प्राह गर्ववान्

Transliteration

rākṣaso gṛhamāgatya brahmāptātibalastadā | mātaraṃ praṇipatyāśu sa bhīmaḥ prāha garvavān

Translation

Then that fearsome rākṣasa returned home, endowed with extraordinary strength as though granted by Brahmā. He quickly bowed down to his mother, and, swollen with pride, spoke.

Word by Word

• राक्षसः: the demon
• राक्षसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• गृहम्: home
• गृहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; गन्तव्य-देश (goal)

• आगत्य: having come
• आगत्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + गम् (धातु) + ल्यप् (ल्यबन्त)
• Form: ल्यबन्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having come)

• ब्रह्माप्तातिबलः: having obtained immense strength from Brahmā
• ब्रह्माप्तातिबलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + आप्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + अतिबल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; समासः: ब्रह्म-आप्त (Brahmā-obtained) + अतिबल (very-strong) → ‘having obtained great strength from Brahmā’

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• मातरम्: (his) mother
• मातरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• प्रणिपत्य: having prostrated
• प्रणिपत्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + नि + पत् (धातु) + ल्यप् (ल्यबन्त)
• Form: ल्यबन्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having bowed down)

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु (अव्यय)
• Form: शीघ्रार्थक-अव्यय (adverb: quickly)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• भीमः: terrible
• भीमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• प्राह: said
• प्राह: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अह्/ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• गर्ववान्: proud
• गर्ववान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गर्ववत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive adjective)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• rakshasa
• mother

FAQs

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

It highlights how worldly power—especially power gained by boons—can inflate ego; Shaiva teaching stresses humility and surrender, because pride becomes a binding pāśa (bond) that veils grace.

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

The verse sets up the contrast between demonic self-assertion and the devotee’s attitude in Linga worship: approaching Saguna Shiva with namaskāra (reverent bowing) and dropping arrogance to become fit for Shiva’s anugraha (grace).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice inner and outer namaskāra: before japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and cultivate humility, consciously offering pride into Shiva as a mental pūjā.