Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

अथ विष्णुः प्रणम्यैनं प्रयातः कमलापतिः । शिरस्यञ्जलिमाधाय तुष्टाव विविधैः स्तवः

Transliteration

atha viṣṇuḥ praṇamyainaṃ prayātaḥ kamalāpatiḥ | śirasyañjalimādhāya tuṣṭāva vividhaiḥ stavaḥ

Translation

Then Lord Viṣṇu—consort of Lakṣmī—bowed down to Him. With joined palms placed upon his head in reverence, he proceeded and praised (Śiva) with many kinds of hymns.

Word by Word

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/sequence marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Discourse particle (अनन्तरार्थक अव्यय)

• viṣṇuḥ: Viṣṇu
• viṣṇuḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• praṇamya: having bowed
• praṇamya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√nam (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्/अव्ययकृदन्त)

• enam: to him/this one
• enam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग)

• prayātaḥ: departed/went forth
• prayātaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject as described)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√yā (धातु)
• Form: Past active participle (क्त/कृदन्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with viṣṇuḥ

• kamalāpatiḥ: the lord of Kamalā (Lakṣmī)
• kamalāpatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kamalā + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): ‘lord of Kamalā (Lakṣmī)’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); apposition to viṣṇuḥ

• śirasi: on (his) head
• śirasi: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• añjalim: folded hands/añjali
• añjalim: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: añjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ādhāya: having placed
• ādhāya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā√dhā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्/अव्ययकृदन्त)

• tuṣṭāva: praised
• tuṣṭāva: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √stu (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• vividhaiḥ: with various
• vividhaiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vividha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifies stavaiḥ (understood)

• stavaḥ: hymn(s)
• stavaḥ: Karma (कर्म/Object/means of praising)
• Type: Noun
• Root: stava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); collective sense ‘hymns’ (plural intended)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shiva
• Lakshmi

FAQs

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

It highlights that even Viṣṇu approaches Śiva with humility and bhakti—showing Śiva as Pati (the Supreme Lord) who is praised through reverent surrender, a key Shaiva Siddhanta emphasis.

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

The verse models Saguna-upāsanā: offering pranāma and stuti with añjali. In Shiva Purana practice, the same attitude is directed to the Śiva-liṅga as the accessible, worship-worthy form of the Supreme.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform añjali (joined palms) with a bowed head and recite Śiva-stotras or the Panchākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) as a focused act of devotion.