Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

अथायान्तं महाकालं त्रिनेत्रं सर्पकुण्डलम् । महादेवांशसम्भूतं पूर्णाकारं च भैरवम्

Transliteration

athāyāntaṃ mahākālaṃ trinetraṃ sarpakuṇḍalam | mahādevāṃśasambhūtaṃ pūrṇākāraṃ ca bhairavam

Translation

Then they beheld Mahākāla drawing near—three-eyed, adorned with serpent-earrings—Bhairava, arisen from a portion of Mahādeva, manifest in a complete and fully revealed form.

Word by Word

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रसङ्ग-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमसूचक/आरम्भसूचक (indeclinable particle: then/now)

• āyāntam: coming/approaching
• āyāntam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-√yā (या धातु) → āyānt (शतृ-कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle); नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचन (Accusative singular neuter), विशेषणरूपेण

• mahākālam: Mahākāla
• mahākālam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (महान् चासौ कालः)

• trinetram: three-eyed
• trinetram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri + netra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (त्रीणि नेत्राणि यस्य/त्रि-नेत्रः) विशेषण

• sarpakuṇḍalam: having serpent-earrings
• sarpakuṇḍalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarpa + kuṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (सर्पः एव कुण्डलं/सर्पकुण्डलम्) विशेषण

• mahādevāṃśasambhūtam: born from a portion of Mahādeva
• mahādevāṃśasambhūtam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahādeva + aṃśa + sam-√bhū (भू धातु) → sambhūta (क्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (महादेवस्य अंशात् सम्भूतम्)

• pūrṇākāram: of complete form
• pūrṇākāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrṇa + ākāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (पूर्णः आकारः यस्य/पूर्णाकारम्) विशेषण

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction: and)

• bhairavam: Bhairava
• bhairavam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhairava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahākāla

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Mahākāleśvara

Sthala Purana: Mahākāla is explicitly named; in Jyotirliṅga tradition, Mahākāleśvara manifests as the Lord of Time who protects devotees and subdues death/time through His presence at Ujjayinī.

Significance: Darśana is sought for victory over fear of death, time-bound suffering, and for protective grace; especially famed for kāla-śamana and śānti.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: kāla-tattva emphasis (Lord as Time), suggesting the metaphysical horizon of dissolution though not a stated pralaya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Mahakala
• Bhairava

FAQs

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

The verse reveals Shiva’s Saguna majesty as Mahākāla and Bhairava—Time-transcending Lordship joined with fierce protection—showing that the Supreme can manifest fully to uphold dharma and liberate devotees.

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

By describing a ‘pūrṇākāra’ manifestation arising from Mahādeva, it supports Saguna upāsanā: the same Shiva worshipped as the formless Linga can also be approached through a definite form like Bhairava for grace, protection, and inner transformation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as Trinetra Mahākāla and recite the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steady awareness of Time’s impermanence; for devotional practice, Bhairava-smaraṇa with bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa supports fearlessness and focus.