Shloka 3

Bhairavaśāpavṛttāntaḥ

The Episode of Bhairava’s Curse and Consolation

Devanagari script

भैरवं द्वारपालं च कृत्वाभ्यन्तरमागतौ । नानासखिगणैः प्रीत्या सेवितौ नरशीलितौ

Transliteration

bhairavaṃ dvārapālaṃ ca kṛtvābhyantaramāgatau | nānāsakhigaṇaiḥ prītyā sevitau naraśīlitau

Translation

Appointing Bhairava as the gatekeeper, they entered within. There, like noble persons of refined conduct, the two were gladly attended upon with affection by many bands of companions.

Word by Word

• भैरवम्: Bhairava
• भैरवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भैरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Acc Sg)

• द्वार-पालम्: as door-keeper
• द्वार-पालम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वार (प्रातिपदिक) + पाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (द्वारस्य पालः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Acc Sg)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; धातु: कृ; ‘having made/appointed’

• अभ्यन्तरम्: to the interior/inside
• अभ्यन्तरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभ्यन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Acc Sg); गत्यर्थे कर्म (goal)

• आगतौ: came/entered
• आगतौ: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानााधिकरण/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकालिक कृदन्त (past participle) ‘आगत’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन (Nom Du); विधेयविशेषण

• नाना: various
• नाना: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाना (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverbial/indeclinable) ‘various’

• सखि-गणैः: by groups of friends/companions
• सखि-गणैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सखि (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (सखीनां गणाः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Instr Pl)

• प्रीत्या: with affection
• प्रीत्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Instr Sg)

• सेवितौ: were attended/served
• सेवितौ: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानााधिकरण/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेव् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकालिक कृदन्त (past participle) ‘सेवित’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन (Nom Du); विधेयविशेषण

• नर-शीलितौ: behaving like humans
• नर-शीलितौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक) + शीलित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (नरैः शीलितौ/नरवत् शीलितौ); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन (Nom Du); विशेषण (सेवितौ/तौ)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Bhairava

FAQs

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

The verse highlights ordered entry into the sacred inner space under Shiva’s guardianship (Bhairava) and emphasizes loving service (seva) as a devotional virtue that purifies the soul (paśu) and aligns it toward Pati (Shiva).

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

By presenting Bhairava as a divine gatekeeper and describing affectionate attendance inside, the verse reflects Saguna Shiva’s accessible divine realm where devotees approach with reverence, purity, and service—key attitudes in Linga-centered worship and temple tradition.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is bhakti expressed as seva: entering worship with discipline and purity, offering respectful attendance and service; this can be paired with japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while maintaining a guarded, inward-focused mind like Bhairava at the gate.