Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

ज्योतिर्मण्डलमध्यस्थो ददृशे पुरुषाकृतिः । विधिक्रतुभ्यां तत्रैव महाद्भुततनुर्मुने

Transliteration

jyotirmaṇḍalamadhyastho dadṛśe puruṣākṛtiḥ | vidhikratubhyāṃ tatraiva mahādbhutatanurmune

Translation

O sage, there itself—within the very center of the orb of radiance—there appeared a Person-like Form, of a most wondrous body, beheld by Brahmā (the Ordainer) and by Kratu.

Word by Word

• ज्योतिः: of light
• ज्योतिः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (genitive), एकवचन; समासे पूर्वपदम्

• मण्डल: of the orb/circle
• मण्डल: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (genitive), एकवचन; समासे मध्यपदम्

• मध्यस्थः: standing in the middle
• मध्यस्थः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; स्था धातोः)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (locative/determinative sense: ‘मध्य-स्थ’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (पुरुषाकृतिः)

• ददृशे: was seen, appeared
• ददृशे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect/लिट्), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः (was seen/appeared)

• पुरुषाकृतिः: a human-like form
• पुरुषाकृतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक) + आकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (genitive/determinative: ‘पुरुषस्य आकृतिः’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विधि: by Brahmā (the Ordainer)
• विधि: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (instrumental), द्विवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वे सह

• क्रतुभ्याम्: by Kratu (sage)
• क्रतुभ्याम्: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (instrumental), द्विवचन; ‘विधि’ इति सह (two agents)

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

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Sambandha/Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• महाद्भुततनुः: of wondrous great body
• महाद्भुततनुः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक) + तनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास (descriptive: ‘महान् अद्भुतः तनुः यस्य’—बहुव्रीहिसदृशार्थे, परन्तु रूपेण कर्मधारय-समास-श्रृङ्खला), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणरूपेण (पुरुषाकृतिः)

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Somanātha

Sthala Purana: From the heart of the infinite jyotis, Śiva reveals a personal (puruṣākṛti) form—grace (anugraha) following the overwhelming theophany—so the seekers can relate to and receive instruction.

Significance: Darśana of Śiva as both aniconic light and personal Lord; supports devotion with right knowledge, dissolving pride and granting śiva-jñāna.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: anthropomorphic revelation within the jyoti-maṇḍala

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Kratu

FAQs

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

It presents Shiva as the supreme Light (jyoti) that can also reveal a compassionate, perceivable Saguna form for devotees and seers—showing that the transcendent Pati becomes accessible through grace and darshan.

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

The “orb of radiance” echoes the linga-principle as luminous, formless divinity, while the “Person-like Form” indicates Shiva’s Saguna self-manifestation—affirming that linga-worship leads to direct experience of Shiva’s revealed presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as inner light (jyoti-dhyāna) while repeating the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), visualizing a radiant linga or sphere of light from which Shiva’s gracious form is revealed.