Shloka 17

भैरवोत्पत्तिः ब्रह्मदर्पनिग्रहश्च

Origin of Bhairava and the Subduing of Brahmā’s Pride

Devanagari script

केतक उवाच । नमस्ते नाथ मे जन्मनिष्फलं भवदाज्ञया । सफलं क्रियतां तात क्षम्यतां मम किल्बिषम्

Transliteration

ketaka uvāca | namaste nātha me janmaniṣphalaṃ bhavadājñayā | saphalaṃ kriyatāṃ tāta kṣamyatāṃ mama kilbiṣam

Translation

Ketaka said: “Salutations to You, O Lord. By disobeying Your command, my very birth has become fruitless. O revered one, make it fruitful again, and forgive my sin.”

Word by Word

• केतकः: Ketaka (name)
• केतकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केतक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative) एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोगे नमः + ते (salutation construction)

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-एकवचन (Genitive/Dative singular) एन्क्लिटिक; नमः-योगे चतुर्थी (to you)

• नाथ: O lord
• नाथ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-एकवचन (Genitive singular)

• जन्म: birth/life
• जन्म: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nominative/Accusative), एकवचन; समास-पूर्वपद

• निष्फलम्: fruitless
• निष्फलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nominative/Accusative), एकवचन; नञ्/निः-पूर्वक-तत्पुरुष (negative determinative)

• भवत्: your
• भवत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-एकवचन (Genitive singular) समास-पूर्वपद

• आज्ञया: by (your) command
• आज्ञया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• सफलम्: fruitful
• सफलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपसर्ग-पूर्वक-तत्पुरुष (with fruit)

• क्रियताम्: may it be made
• क्रियताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद, कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive: 'let it be made')

• तात: O dear one/father
• तात: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• क्षम्यताम्: may (it) be forgiven
• क्षम्यताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षम (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद, कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive: 'let it be forgiven')

• मम: of me/my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-एकवचन (Genitive singular)

• किल्बिषम्: sin/offense
• किल्बिषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किल्बिष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Ketaka (Ketakī flower/personified)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Ketakī’s repentance (kṣamā-yācñā) functions as a miniature model of pāśu turning toward Pati: confession of fault, recognition of fruitlessness (niṣphalatā) under pāśa, and request for Śiva’s grace to restore meaningful existence.

Significance: Teaches prāyaścitta-bhāva: even after ritual/ethical failure, humility and surrender to Śiva are the doorway to restored merit and right participation in worship.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights Shaiva ethics: when one violates the Lord’s injunction, the result is spiritual barrenness, but sincere surrender, confession, and seeking Shiva’s grace can restore one’s life to true purpose (dharma and liberation).

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

In Linga-centered devotion, Shiva is approached as the gracious Lord (Saguna) who responds to humility and repentance; the devotee turns from self-will to obedience to Shiva’s ājñā, which is essential for pure worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is prāyaścitta through bhakti: offer namaskāra, confess the fault before Shiva (especially during Linga-pūjā), and repeat Shiva’s name/mantra with the resolve not to repeat the offence.