Shloka 4

Bhairavaśāpavṛttāntaḥ

The Episode of Bhairava’s Curse and Consolation

Devanagari script

चिरं विहृत्य तत्र द्वौ स्वतन्त्रौ परमेश्वरौ । बभूवतुः प्रसन्नो तौ नानालीलाकरौ मुने

Transliteration

ciraṃ vihṛtya tatra dvau svatantrau parameśvarau | babhūvatuḥ prasanno tau nānālīlākarau mune

Translation

After sporting there for a long time, those two supremely independent Lords became gracious—O sage—manifesting many kinds of divine play (līlā).

Word by Word

• चिरम्: for a long time
• चिरम्: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चिरम् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालपरिमाणवाचक अव्यय (adverb)

• विहृत्य: having played/sported
• विहृत्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-हृ (धातु)
• Form: ल्यबन्त/absolutive, अव्ययभावः; धातु: वि√हृ; ‘having sported’

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)

• द्वौ: two
• द्वौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Nom Du); संख्यावाचक विशेषण

• स्वतन्त्रौ: independent
• स्वतन्त्रौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वतन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Nom Du); विशेषण

• परमेश्वरौ: the Supreme Lords
• परमेश्वरौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास (परमः ईश्वरः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Nom Du)

• बभूवतुः: they became
• बभूवतुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन (3rd person dual)

• प्रसन्नौ: pleased
• प्रसन्नौ: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानााधिकरण/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Nom Du); विधेयविशेषण (predicate adjective)

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Nom Du); सर्वनाम

• नाना-लीला-करौ: performers of many sports
• नाना-लीला-करौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय) + लीला (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (नानाविधाः लीलाः करोति इति); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Nom Du); विशेषण (तौ)

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन विभक्ति, एकवचन (Voc Sg)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It highlights that Shiva (with Shakti) is svatantra—absolutely free—and that liberation and auspicious transformation arise from His prasāda (grace), which is expressed through divine līlā for the uplift of beings.

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

By emphasizing Shiva’s gracious manifestation (prasanna) and līlā, the verse supports Saguna worship—approaching the Supreme through accessible forms and narratives, including Linga-upāsanā, where the formless is honored through a sacred emblem.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to seek Shiva’s prasāda through steady bhakti: daily Panchakshara japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with simple Linga worship—offering water, bilva leaves, and cultivating reverent remembrance of His līlā.