Shloka 5

Bhairavaśāpavṛttāntaḥ

The Episode of Bhairava’s Curse and Consolation

Devanagari script

अथोन्मत्ताकृतिर्देवी स्वतन्त्रा लीलया शिवा । आगता द्वारि तद्रूपा प्रभोराज्ञामवाप सा

Transliteration

athonmattākṛtirdevī svatantrā līlayā śivā | āgatā dvāri tadrūpā prabhorājñāmavāpa sā

Translation

Then the Goddess Śivā—self-willed and playful in her līlā—assumed the guise of a madwoman. In that very form she came to the doorway and thus received the Lord’s command.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अनुक्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रमसूचक/सम्बन्धबोधक (indeclinable particle: then/now)

• उन्मत्त-आकृतिः: one having a mad appearance
• उन्मत्त-आकृतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उन्मत्त (प्रातिपदिक) + आकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारयार्थे: उन्मत्तस्य आकृतिः (mad-looking form)

• देवी: the goddess
• देवी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• स्वतन्त्रा: independent
• स्वतन्त्रा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वतन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying devī)

• लीलया: playfully
• लीलया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण/हेतौ (instrumental: playfully)

• शिवा: Śivā (Pārvatī)
• शिवा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; देवीविशेषनाम (name/title)

• आगता: came / having arrived
• आगता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; गत्यर्थक: ‘आगता’ = having come

• द्वारि: at the door
• द्वारि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative: at the door)

• तत्-रूपा: in that form
• तत्-रूपा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: तस्य रूपम् यस्याः (having that form)

• प्रभोः: of the lord
• प्रभोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive: of the lord)

• आज्ञाम्: command / order
• आज्ञाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• अवाप: obtained / received
• अवाप: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-आप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्/परस्मैपद-रूप (perfect-like narrative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; ‘अवाप’ = obtained/received

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It highlights Śakti’s svātantrya (divine freedom) expressed as līlā: the Goddess can assume any guise to serve Shiva’s cosmic purpose, teaching devotees to look beyond outer appearances and recognize the divine will operating through form.

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

In Saguna worship, devotees honor Shiva’s will (ājñā) and recognize that the Lord’s power (Śivā/Śakti) manifests through countless forms; this supports linga-bhakti where form is a doorway to the formless truth.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice bhakti with discernment: while chanting the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” contemplate that Shiva’s grace may appear in unexpected forms, and cultivate humility and receptivity to the Lord’s direction.