Shloka 72

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

Devanagari script

बन्धनागारसंस्थोऽपि प्राप्तोऽपि विपदम्पराम् । प्रादुर्भावं भैरवस्य श्रुत्वा मुच्येत सङ्कटात्

Transliteration

bandhanāgārasaṃstho'pi prāpto'pi vipadamparām | prādurbhāvaṃ bhairavasya śrutvā mucyeta saṅkaṭāt

Translation

Even if one is confined in a prison, or has fallen into the extremity of calamities, merely by hearing of the manifestation of Bhairava one becomes freed from distress.

Word by Word

• बन्धनागारसंस्थः: one who is confined in a prison-house
• बन्धनागारसंस्थः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बन्धन + आगार + संस्थ (प्रातिपदिक-समूह; √स्था-धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘संस्थ’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—बन्धनस्य आगारम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) + तत्र संस्थः (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष-प्राय); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (स्थितः)

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

• प्राप्तः: having met/attained
• प्राप्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राप्त (प्रातिपदिक; √आप्/√प्राप्-धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• विपदम्: calamity
• विपदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विपद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पराम्: supreme, extreme
• पराम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (विपदम्)

• प्रादुर्भावम्: manifestation, appearance
• प्रादुर्भावम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रादुर्भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भैरवस्य: of Bhairava
• भैरवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भैरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• मुच्येत: would be freed
• मुच्येत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मुच् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• सङ्कटात्: from distress/danger
• सङ्कटात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सङ्कट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Continuing the phalaśruti: Bhairava’s manifestation narrative is said to break worldly constraints (imprisonment, calamity). In Kāśī theology, the kṣetra’s Lord grants practical and spiritual release through his guardian’s grace.

Significance: Promises both laukika (worldly) and pāramārthika (spiritual) protection: Bhairava’s anugraha removes संकट and supports the pilgrim’s safe passage and inner purification.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Bhairava

FAQs

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

It teaches the phala of śravaṇa (devout hearing): remembrance of Shiva as Bhairava breaks pasha-like bondage—fear, karma-born suffering, and worldly संकट—by turning the mind toward the protecting Lord (Pati).

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

Bhairava is Saguna Shiva—Shiva in a protective, awe-inspiring form. Hearing His līlā functions like Linga-worship in effect: it awakens bhakti and surrender, through which distress and inner bondage are removed.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular śravaṇa/pāṭha of Bhairava-kathā (and allied japa such as the Panchakshara, Om Namaḥ Śivāya) is implied as a simple sādhanā for संकट-nivāraṇa (removal of danger) and inner steadiness.