Shloka 32

भैरवावतारलीलावर्णनम् (Bhairava-avatāra-līlā-varṇanam) — “Narration of the Divine Play of Bhairava’s Descent”

Devanagari script

तदा कृते महादेव पापं ब्रह्मवधादिकम् । पारतन्त्र्यं न ते शम्भो स्वैरं क्रीडत्यतो भवान्

Transliteration

tadā kṛte mahādeva pāpaṃ brahmavadhādikam | pāratantryaṃ na te śambho svairaṃ krīḍatyato bhavān

Translation

O Mahādeva, when that deed was done, sin arose, beginning with brahma-hatyā (the slaying of a brāhmaṇa). Yet, O Śambhu, there is no bondage or dependence for You; therefore You sport freely, in complete sovereignty.

Word by Word

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (then)

• कृते: when (it) was done
• कृते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (when it was done)

• महादेव: O Mahādeva
• महादेव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पापम्: sin
• पापम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ब्रह्म-वध-आदिकम्: beginning with Brahmin-slaying
• ब्रह्म-वध-आदिकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + वध + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (पापम्); समाहार/तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मवधः आदिः यस्य)

• पारतन्त्र्यम्: dependence, subjection
• पारतन्त्र्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पारतन्त्र्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात (negation)

• ते: of you, your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (genitive: of you/your)

• शम्भो: O Śambhu
• शम्भो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्वैरम्: freely, at will
• स्वैरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वैर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (भवान्/क्रीडति)

• क्रीडति: plays, sports
• क्रीडति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्रीड् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक क्रियाविशेषण (therefore/from this)

• भवान्: you (honorific)
• भवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s transcendence over sin and bondage in the Shatarudra Samhita context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches Shiva’s svatantrya (absolute freedom): karmic fault and bondage apply to bound souls (paśu), not to Pati (Shiva), who acts in līlā while remaining untouched by impurity.

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

Linga/Saguna worship trains the devotee to see Shiva as the transcendent Lord who is present in form yet never limited by form—so devotion matures into trust in Shiva’s sovereign grace beyond worldly judgments.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Shiva as Pati beyond pasha while japa of the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” supported by Tripundra (bhasma) and Rudraksha, to internalize freedom from dependence and fear.