Shloka 16

भैरवावतारवर्णनम् (Bhairavāvatāra-varṇanam) — “Description of the Descent/Manifestation of Bhairava”

Devanagari script

न चैतदुचिता ब्रह्मन्योगयुक्तस्य मूर्खता । अविज्ञाय परं तत्त्वं वृथैतत्ते निगद्यते

Transliteration

na caitaducitā brahmanyogayuktasya mūrkhatā | avijñāya paraṃ tattvaṃ vṛthaitatte nigadyate

Translation

O Brahman, such folly is not fitting for one established in yoga. Without realizing the Supreme Reality, whatever is spoken or asserted is said in vain.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• etad: this
• etad: Vishaya (विषय/that under discussion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• ucitā: appropriate
• ucitā: Vidhāyaka (विधायक/predicative qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ucita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √uc (उच्) + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; past participle used adjectivally; 'proper/appropriate'

• brahman: O Brahman (sage)
• brahman: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/vocative), एकवचन

• yoga-yuktasya: of one who is yoga-endowed
• yoga-yuktasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yoga (प्रातिपदिक) + yukta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √yuj (युज्) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—योगेन युक्तः (one endowed with yoga)

• mūrkhatā: foolishness
• mūrkhatā: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrkhatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; abstract noun (-tā)

• avijñāya: without knowing
• avijñāya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/absolutive modifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jñā (ज्ञा) + अवि- + ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय; gerund)
• Form: अव्यय-भावे कृदन्त (gerund/क्त्वान्त), 'having not known/without knowing'

• param: supreme
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• tattvam: principle; reality
• tattvam: Karma (कर्म/object of knowing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• vṛthā: in vain; wrongly
• vṛthā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vṛthā (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (कर्म/that which is said)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• te: to you; for you
• te: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/for you)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (युष्मद्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/genitive) एकवचन; enclitic form

• nigadyate: is said; is stated
• nigadyate: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√gad (गद्) (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive voice)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (instructing Brahma/ a brahmavid within the narrative context of Shatarudrasaṃhitā)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Didactic correction: yoga without realization of para-tattva is censured; this is an anugraha-moment (teaching-grace) rather than a shrine legend.

Significance: Frames pilgrimage and practice as incomplete without tattva-jñāna; encourages seekers to move from external debate to inner realization of Śiva as para-tattva.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It warns that spiritual discourse without direct realization of the Supreme Tattva is fruitless; true wisdom in Shaiva thought arises from lived yoga leading to knowledge of Shiva as the highest Reality (Pati).

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

Linga/Saguna worship is validated as a discipline that matures into realization of the Para-tattva; the verse emphasizes that outward statements must culminate in inner knowing—devotion and worship should lead to direct experience of Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It implies steady yoga—japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), meditation on Shiva-tattva, and disciplined worship (including bhasma/rudraksha where prescribed) so that knowledge becomes realization rather than mere speech.