Shloka 27

कैलासमार्गे शङ्करस्य परीक्षा — Śiva Tests the Approachers on the Kailāsa Path

Devanagari script

नमो ब्रह्मशिरोहंत्रे ब्रह्मचंद्र स्तुताय च । ब्रह्मण्याय नमस्तेऽस्तु नमस्ते परमात्मने

Transliteration

namo brahmaśirohaṃtre brahmacaṃdra stutāya ca | brahmaṇyāya namaste'stu namaste paramātmane

Translation

Salutations to You, slayer of Brahmā’s head; salutations to You, praised by Brahmā and by the Moon. Salutations to You, protector and benefactor of the devoted; salutations to You, the Supreme Self (Paramātman).

Word by Word

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/salutatory)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya, salutation particle (नमः-प्रयोगः)

• brahma-śiraḥ-haṃtre: to the slayer of Brahmā’s head
• brahma-śiraḥ-haṃtre: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman + śiras + hantr̥ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; compound: brahmaśirohaṃtṛ = “slayer of Brahmā’s head” (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• brahma-caṃdra-stutāya: to the one praised by Brahmā and the Moon
• brahma-caṃdra-stutāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman + caṃdra + stuta (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; compound: brahmacaṃdrastuta = “praised by Brahmā and the Moon” (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष/agent-instrument sense)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction (समुच्चय)

• brahmaṇyāya: to the protector of Brahmins / the pious one
• brahmaṇyāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brahmaṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; adjective meaning “favorable to Brahmins / devoted to Brahman”

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/salutatory)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya, salutation particle (नमः-प्रयोगः)

• te: to you
• te: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक सर्वनाम)
• Form: Pronoun, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; enclitic

• astu: let it be
• astu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Imperative/benedictive sense, Loṭ (लोट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/salutatory)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya, salutation particle (नमः-प्रयोगः)

• te: to you
• te: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक सर्वनाम)
• Form: Pronoun, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; enclitic

• parama-ātmane: to the Supreme Self
• parama-ātmane: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; compound: paramātmā = “supreme self” (कर्मधारय)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the hymn of praise within the Yuddhakhaṇḍa context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Mahākāleśvara

Sthala Purana: The verse recalls Śiva’s brahmaśiraḥ-cheda (severing Brahmā’s head) and the ensuing Bhairava/Kapālika motif; Ujjayinī’s Mahākāla-kṣetra is traditionally linked with Bhairava guardianship and Śiva’s supremacy over Brahmā.

Significance: Pilgrims seek removal of brahmahatyā-like burdens (heavy pāśa of karma), protection of dharma, and inner purification through acknowledging Śiva as Paramātman.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: नमो ब्रह्मशिरोहंत्रे ब्रह्मचंद्र स्तुताय च । ब्रह्मण्याय नमस्तेऽस्तु नमस्ते परमात्मने

Type: stotra

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Chandra

FAQs

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

The verse unites Shiva’s cosmic authority (as the chastiser of Brahmā’s pride) with His saving grace (brahmaṇya—protector of the devoted), culminating in the Siddhāntic insight that Shiva is the Paramātman, the highest refuge granting liberation.

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

By offering repeated namas, the devotee approaches Saguna Shiva—praised by Brahmā and Candra—while recognizing His transcendent nature as Paramātman, which aligns with Linga worship where a visible form points to the formless Supreme.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice reverential namaskāra with stotra-japa—reciting such salutations alongside the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), ideally with vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa, cultivating humility and surrender to Shiva as the inner Self.