Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

तत्रागत्य विधिन्नत्वा पप्रच्छुस्ते महादरात् । कृताञ्जलिपुटास्सर्वे नतस्कन्धा मुनीश्वराः

Transliteration

tatrāgatya vidhinnatvā papracchuste mahādarāt | kṛtāñjalipuṭāssarve nataskandhā munīśvarāḥ

Translation

Having come there and duly bowing according to sacred rule, those lordly sages questioned him with great reverence—each with hands joined in añjali, shoulders bent in humility.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्—देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• आगत्य: having come
• आगत्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु) → आगत्य (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund); अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; पूर्वक्रिया (having come)

• विधि: the ordinance/ritual procedure
• विधि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘विधिं’ (object of नम्)

• नत्वा: having bowed
• नत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नम् (धातु) → नत्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्त्वा (absolutive); अव्ययवत्; पूर्वक्रिया (having bowed)

• पप्रच्छुः: they asked
• पप्रच्छुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी (Dative), एकवचन; ‘to you’

• महा-आदरात्: out of great respect
• महा-आदरात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + आदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (महान् आदरः)

• कृत-अञ्जलि-पुटाः: with hands folded
• कृत-अञ्जलि-पुटाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृदन्त/PPP of कृ) + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक) + पुट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (कृतः अञ्जलिपुटः येषाम्) (idiom: hands folded)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; मुनीश्वराः इति विशेषणम्

• नत-स्कन्धाः: with bowed shoulders
• नत-स्कन्धाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नत (कृदन्त/PPP of नम्) + स्कन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—नताः स्कन्धाः येषाम् (with bowed shoulders/necks)

• मुनीश्वराः: lords among sages
• मुनीश्वराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (मुनीनाम् ईश्वराः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a jyotirliṅga episode; depicts the proper approach (vidhi-nati, añjali) of seekers to a guru/deity—typical purāṇic pedagogy preceding revelation.

Significance: Models śiṣya-lakṣaṇa: humility and reverence as prerequisites for receiving Śiva-jñāna; pilgrimage ethos generalized to any Śiva-kṣetra or satsanga.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that true spiritual knowledge arises in humility—approaching a worthy teacher with reverence, self-restraint, and sincere inquiry, which aligns with Shaiva bhakti and the disciple’s surrender before Pati (Shiva).

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

The outer gesture (añjali and bowing) reflects the inner posture needed for Saguna Shiva worship—devotion and submission—through which the mind becomes fit to receive Shiva-tattva teachings often conveyed via Linga-oriented narration and praise.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice respectful namaskara and añjali before Shiva, guru, or scripture-recitation; listen attentively in satsanga and then ask dharmic questions—this is a foundational discipline that supports mantra-japa (e.g., Panchakshara) and steady meditation.