Shloka 52

वीरभद्र-भैरव-आह्वानम् — Invocation of Vīrabhadra/Bhairava for Cosmic Reabsorption

Devanagari script

अद्यापि तव पुत्रस्य ब्रह्मणः पञ्चमं शिरः । छिन्नं न सज्जितं भूयो हरे तद्विस्मृतन्त्वया

Transliteration

adyāpi tava putrasya brahmaṇaḥ pañcamaṃ śiraḥ | chinnaṃ na sajjitaṃ bhūyo hare tadvismṛtantvayā

Translation

Even now, O Hari, the fifth head of your son Brahmā has been cut off, and it has not been restored again—this truth has been forgotten by you.

Word by Word

• adya-api: even today/still
• adya-api: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण/adverb of time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya (अव्यय) + api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverbial ‘even today/still’

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: 2nd-person pronoun, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• putrasya: of (your) son
• putrasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• brahmaṇaḥ: of Brahmā
• brahmaṇaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• pañcamam: fifth
• pañcamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañcama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifies śiraḥ

• śiraḥ: head
• śiraḥ: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (form same as nom.)

• chinnam: cut off
• chinnam: Karma (कर्म/predicate to object)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √chid (धातु) (छिन्न)
• Form: Past passive participle (कृत/क्त), Neuter, Accusative, Singular; agrees with śiraḥ

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), negation particle (निषेध)

• sajjitam: replaced/reattached/made ready
• sajjitam: Karma (कर्म/predicate to object)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √saj (धातु) (सज्जित)
• Form: Past passive participle (कृत/क्त), Neuter, Accusative, Singular; ‘made ready/attached’; agrees with śiraḥ (elliptic)

• bhūyaḥ: again
• bhūyaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhūyaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb ‘again/further’

• hare: O Hari
• hare: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म/object of vismṛtam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; refers to the fact/event

• vismṛtam: forgotten
• vismṛtam: Karma (कर्म/predicate about tat)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√smṛ (धातु) (विस्मृत)
• Form: Past passive participle (कृत/क्त), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; with tat as object: ‘that has been forgotten’

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karaṇa (करण/agent-instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: 2nd-person pronoun, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; agent in passive

Speaker

Lord Shiva (inferred, admonishing Vishnu as 'Hari' about Brahma’s fifth head episode)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Evokes the Brahmā’s fifth head severed by Śiva (often Bhairava aspect) to curb arrogance; not a jyotirliṅga-specific sthala narrative here.

Significance: Meditation on ego-cutting (ahaṅkāra-chedana): Śiva as the remover of pride even in cosmic offices (Brahmā).

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Brahma
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva teaching that cosmic pride and false supremacy are cut down by Pati (Shiva); even great deities are subject to Shiva’s higher ordinance, which purifies ego and restores dharma.

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

The episode recalls Shiva’s decisive, manifest (saguṇa) intervention to uphold truth—supporting Linga-worship as devotion to the supreme Lord who transcends and governs all divine functions.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice humility with japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and contemplation on ego-dissolution; offer bilva and apply Tripuṇḍra-bhasma as reminders of surrender to Shiva’s higher will.