Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

कल्पान्तज्वलनज्वालो विलसल्लोचनत्रयः । अशस्त्रो हि जटाजूटी ज्वलद्बालेन्दुमण्डितः

Transliteration

kalpāntajvalanajvālo vilasallocanatrayaḥ | aśastro hi jaṭājūṭī jvaladbālendumaṇḍitaḥ

Translation

He blazed like the fire at the end of an aeon; His three eyes shone brilliantly. Though without weapons, He was the matted-haired Lord, adorned with the glowing crescent moon upon His locks.

Word by Word

• कल्पान्त-ज्वलन-ज्वालः: (he) whose flame is like the fire at the end of an aeon
• कल्पान्त-ज्वलन-ज्वालः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्पान्त (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्वलन (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्वाला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग-आधारात् पुंलिङ्ग-प्रयोगः (ज्वालः as masc. nominative), प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणार्थे (as epithet)

• विलसत्: shining
• विलसत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विलस् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्तः (present participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद (as prior member)

• लोचनत्रयः: three eyes
• लोचनत्रयः: Viśeṣya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोचन (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगुसमास (numeral compound)

• अशस्त्रः: weaponless
• अशस्त्रः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-शस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्-समास/निषेध (negative)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• जटाजूटी: having matted locks
• जटाजूटी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जटा (प्रातिपदिक) + जूटिन्/जूटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—जटाजूटिः यस्य सः

• ज्वलत्: blazing
• ज्वलत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्वल् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्तः (present participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद

• बालेन्दु-मण्डितः: adorned with the young moon
• बालेन्दु-मण्डितः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्दु (प्रातिपदिक) + मण्डित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषार्थः (instrumental sense): बालेन्दुना मण्डितः

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s form to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahākāla

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Mahākāleśvara

Sthala Purana: Mahākāla blazes as the lord of Time; the jyotirliṅga tradition remembers him as the self-manifest guardian who grants liberation by consuming kāla (time) and fear of death.

Significance: Darśana/abhisheka is sought for release from fear, protection from untimely death, and deepening vairāgya through awareness of kāla and pralaya.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: kalpa-anta (pralaya fire)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse portrays Shiva as the supreme Pati whose power transcends time: He is like the kalpānta-fire that dissolves bondage, yet His weaponless sovereignty shows that liberation comes from His will and grace, not from worldly force.

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

It supports Saguna-upāsanā by giving clear marks for dhyāna—three eyes, jata, and the crescent moon—through which devotees concentrate the mind; this contemplation naturally leads to reverence for the Linga as the stable, formless-support (nirguṇa-ādhāra) of the same Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice Shiva-dhyāna by visualizing the Trinetra Chandrashekhara form while repeating the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya); optionally apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder of kalpānta-fire and impermanence.