Shloka 99

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

Devanagari script

भीतो हिरण्यगर्भोऽपि जजाप शतरुद्रियम् । इत्थं तौ गतगर्वौ हि संजातौ तत्क्षणान्मुने

Transliteration

bhīto hiraṇyagarbho'pi jajāpa śatarudriyam | itthaṃ tau gatagarvau hi saṃjātau tatkṣaṇānmune

Translation

Even Hiraṇyagarbha (Brahmā), struck with fear, recited the Śatarudrīya. Thus, O sage, in that very moment both of them became free from pride.

Word by Word

• भीतः: afraid
• भीतः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भी (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘frightened’

• हिरण्यगर्भः: Hiraṇyagarbha (Brahmā)
• हिरण्यगर्भः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिरण्यगर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: सम्बन्ध/बल (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: also/even)

• जजाप: recited/muttered
• जजाप: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• शतरुद्रियम्: the Śatarudriya (hymn)
• शतरुद्रियम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत + रुद्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी/उपपद-तत्पुरुष ‘शत(म्) रुद्राणां स्तुतिः/पाठः’ (name of hymn)

• इत्थम्: thus/in this way
• इत्थम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इत्थम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (manner adverb)

• तौ: those two
• तौ: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; सर्वनाम

• गतगर्वौ: with pride gone/humbled
• गतगर्वौ: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गत (√गम्, कृदन्त) + गर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; विशेषणम् (तौ); समासः तत्पुरुष ‘गतः गर्वः यस्य’ (pride gone)

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध/बल (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: indeed/for)

• संजातौ: became
• संजातौ: क्रिया/भाव (Predicative state)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + जन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle) used predicatively, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; ‘having become/arisen’

• तत्क्षणात्: from that very moment
• तत्क्षणात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Source: from that moment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् + क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष ‘तस्मिन् क्षणे’/‘तत् क्षणः’

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

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Brahma (Hiraṇyagarbha)
• Rudra (Shiva)

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that even the highest cosmic authority (Brahmā) attains inner purification by turning to Rudra through mantra-japa; fear and ego dissolve when one takes refuge in Shiva, the supreme Pati who grants grace and steadiness of mind.

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

Śatarudrīya is a classic Saguna form of Rudra-upāsanā—praising Shiva through names and attributes. In Shiva Purana practice, such praise naturally culminates in Linga worship, where the devotee offers mantra, water, and reverence while relinquishing pride.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Rudra-japa (recitation of Śatarudrīya/Rudram) with a humble, surrendering attitude is implied; it can be paired with Linga abhiṣeka and Shaiva disciplines like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as supportive aids to focused devotion.