Shloka 4

भैरवोत्पत्तिः ब्रह्मदर्पनिग्रहश्च

Origin of Bhairava and the Subduing of Brahmā’s Pride

Devanagari script

स वै गृहीत्वैककरेण केशं तत्पंचमं दृप्तमसत्यभाषणम् । छित्त्वा शिरांस्यस्य निहंतुमुद्यतः प्रकंपयन्खड्गमतिस्फुटं करैः

Transliteration

sa vai gṛhītvaikakareṇa keśaṃ tatpaṃcamaṃ dṛptamasatyabhāṣaṇam | chittvā śirāṃsyasya nihaṃtumudyataḥ prakaṃpayankhaḍgamatisphuṭaṃ karaiḥ

Translation

Then he seized by the hair with one hand that fifth one—arrogant and given to false speech—and, having cut off his heads, he rose to strike him down, shaking the sword vigorously in his hands.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• गृहीत्वा: having seized
• गृहीत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया (prior action)

• एककरेण: with one hand
• एककरेण: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक-कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-प्रायः (one-hand)

• केशम्: hair (lock)
• केशम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• तत्-पञ्चमम्: that fifth (head/person)
• तत्-पञ्चमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् + पञ्चम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• दृप्तम्: arrogant
• दृप्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृप्त (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-विशेषण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participial adjective)

• असत्यभाषणम्: speaking falsehood
• असत्यभाषणम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असत्य + भाषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (speaking untruth); विशेषण

• छित्त्वा: having cut off
• छित्त्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: छिद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वक्रिया

• शिरांसि: heads
• शिरांसि: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• अस्य: of him
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• निहन्तुम्: to slay
• निहन्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-हन् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), प्रयोजन (purpose)

• उद्यतः: ready (to act)
• उद्यतः: Karta (कर्ता; subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्यत (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त/विशेषण (ready/raised)

• प्रकम्पयन्: shaking
• प्रकम्पयन्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-कम्प् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• खड्गम्: sword
• खड्गम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खड्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अतिस्फुटम्: very strongly/clearly
• अतिस्फुटम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति + स्फुट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव (very clearly/violently); विशेषण (qualifier of action/weapon)

• करैः: with (his) hands
• करैः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It depicts the inevitable fall of pride and untruth: adharma rooted in arrogance is cut down by divine authority, reminding the seeker that liberation begins with surrendering falsehood and ego before Pati (Lord Shiva).

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

As Saguna Shiva, the Lord actively upholds dharma in the world; Linga-worship trains the devotee to abandon deceit and arrogance, aligning one’s speech and mind with truthfulness and devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a vow of truthful speech (satya-vrata); offer bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and cultivate humility as a daily sadhana to weaken ego-driven impulses.