Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

प्रमथैः सेव्यमानोऽपि ह्येकदा विहरन्हरः । कापालिको ययौ स्वैरी नारायणनिकेतनम्

Transliteration

pramathaiḥ sevyamāno'pi hyekadā viharanharaḥ | kāpāliko yayau svairī nārāyaṇaniketanam

Translation

Even while being attended upon by the Pramathas, Hara (Lord Śiva) once, roaming freely in the guise of a Kāpālika ascetic, went to the abode of Nārāyaṇa (Viṣṇu).

Word by Word

• pramathaiḥ: by the Pramathas (Śiva’s attendants)
• pramathaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण) / agent-instrument
• Type: Noun
• Root: pramatha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana; instrumental of agency

• sevyamānaḥ: being served
• sevyamānaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता) (subject qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sev (सेव् धातु)
• Form: Present passive participle (वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि शानच्), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; ‘being served’

• api: even though
• api: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; concessive ‘even though’

• hi: indeed
• hi: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphasis particle

• ekadā: once, at one time
• ekadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ekadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; time adverb (कालवाचक)

• viharan: roaming, sporting
• viharan: Kartā (कर्ता) (qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vihar (विहर् धातु)
• Form: Śatṛ present active participle, Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; ‘sporting/roaming’

• haraḥ: Hara (Śiva)
• haraḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• kāpālikaḥ: the skull-bearer (Kāpālika)
• kāpālikaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता) (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāpālika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; epithet in apposition to haraḥ

• yayau: went
• yayau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (या धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (लिट्, perfect), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• svairī: self-willed, free-roaming
• svairī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svairin (स्वैरिन् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; adjective qualifying (haraḥ/kāpālikaḥ)

• nārāyaṇa-niketanam: Nārāyaṇa’s abode
• nārāyaṇa-niketanam: Karma (कर्म) (goal as object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + niketana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa ‘abode of Nārāyaṇa’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Kaṅkālamūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse sets up a Hari-Hara encounter (Śiva visiting Nārāyaṇa’s abode) in a Kāpālika guise; not tied to a Jyotirliṅga site.

Significance: Highlights Śiva’s līlā and concealment (tirodhāna): the Lord veils majesty in an ascetic guise, testing and elevating divine and worldly beings toward right recognition.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Pramathas

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva’s absolute freedom (svātantrya) and his compassionate leelā: though the Supreme Lord is ever worshiped, he moves among worlds in approachable forms to guide beings and to reveal the harmony of divine powers.

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

Śiva appearing as a Kāpālika shows Saguna Śiva—God with attributes—taking a concrete, symbolic form. Such forms support devotion and contemplation, just as the Liṅga serves as a focused, aniconic support for realizing Śiva’s transcendent nature.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The Kāpālika motif points to austere Shaiva sādhanā—inner renunciation, steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and Shaiva marks like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa—used as aids for discipline and remembrance of Śiva.