Shloka 71

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

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वाख्यानमिदम्पुण्यम्ब्रह्महत्यापनोदकम् । भैरवोत्पत्तिसंज्ञं च सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते

Transliteration

śrutvākhyānamidampuṇyambrahmahatyāpanodakam | bhairavotpattisaṃjñaṃ ca sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate

Translation

Whoever hears this holy narrative—known as the account of Bhairava’s manifestation, and renowned for removing even the sin of brahma-hatyā—becomes freed from all sins.

Word by Word

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-भाव (Gerund/Absolutive); ‘having heard’

• आख्यानम्: narrative, account
• आख्यानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आख्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; संकेत-सर्वनाम

• पुण्यम्: meritorious, holy
• पुण्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying आख्यानम्)

• ब्रह्महत्यापनोदकम्: removing the sin of brahma-hatyā
• ब्रह्महत्यापनोदकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्महत्या + अपनोदक (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—ब्रह्महत्यायाः अपनोदकम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); विशेषण (आख्यानम्)

• भैरवोत्पत्तिसंज्ञम्: called ‘the origin of Bhairava’
• भैरवोत्पत्तिसंज्ञम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भैरव + उत्पत्ति + संज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—भैरवस्य उत्पत्तिः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) + तया संज्ञा यस्य (तत्पुरुष-प्राय); विशेषण (आख्यानम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक

• सर्वपापैः: from all sins
• सर्वपापैः: Apādāna (अपादान; separation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वपाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—सर्वाणि पापानि (कर्मधारय)

• प्रमुच्यते: is released/freed
• प्रमुच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: The phalaśruti declares that hearing the Bhairava-utpatti narrative purifies even brahmahatyā; in Kāśī, such śravaṇa is framed as a direct means of kṣetra-anugraha under Viśvanātha’s dispensation through Bhairava.

Significance: Elevates śravaṇa (hearing) as a primary purificatory act in Kāśī: narrative-contact with Bhairava is itself a grace-channel removing heavy sins.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Bhairava

FAQs

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

It teaches the Shaiva principle of śravaṇa-bhakti: devoted hearing of Shiva’s līlā, especially Bhairava’s manifestation, purifies karmic impurity and loosens pāśa (bondage), leading toward inner freedom.

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

Bhairava is a Saguna form of Shiva; hearing His origin-story strengthens devotion and reverence to Shiva’s manifest grace, which is commonly approached through Linga-worship, mantra, and Purāṇic kathā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular śravaṇa (hearing/recitation) of Shiva Purana—especially Bhairava-kathā—along with japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) is the implied practice for purification and steadiness of mind.