Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 52
दक्षस्य विष्णुं प्रति शरणागतिḥ — Dakṣa’s Appeal to Viṣṇu and the Teaching on Disrespect to Śiva
श्रीकालभैरवः काश्यां नखाग्रेणैव लीलया । पुरा शिरश्च चिच्छेद पंचमं ब्रह्मणो ध्रुवम्
śrīkālabhairavaḥ kāśyāṃ nakhāgreṇaiva līlayā | purā śiraśca ciccheda paṃcamaṃ brahmaṇo dhruvam
À Kāśī, Śrī Kālabhairava, d’un simple bout d’ongle et comme un lila, un jeu divin, trancha jadis la solide cinquième tête de Brahmā.
Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Kālabhairava
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: Kāśī is Śiva’s eternal kṣetra where Bhairava functions as Kṣetrapāla; the severing of Brahmā’s fifth head establishes Bhairava’s supremacy and the karmic consequence (brahmahatyā) that later culminates in purification at Kāśī, reinforcing the city’s role as the pre-eminent Śaiva tīrtha around Viśveśvara.
Significance: Darśana of Kālabhairava as Kṣetrapāla is traditionally sought for protection, removal of obstacles, and eligibility/‘adhikāra’ to fruitfully worship Viśvanātha in Kāśī; the episode underscores Śiva’s governance over cosmic order and ego-dissolution.
Type: stotra
Cosmic Event: Mythic assertion of Śiva’s supremacy through the chastisement of Brahmā (pañcama-śiraś-cheda), a paradigmatic act of cosmic re-ordering.
FAQs
The verse teaches that Śiva, as Kālabhairava, destroys inflated ego and misuse of authority (symbolized by Brahmā’s fifth head). In Shaiva Siddhānta terms, this is grace through discipline—removing āṇava (egoic limitation) so the soul can turn toward Pati (Śiva) for liberation.
Kālabhairava is a Saguna manifestation of Śiva who safeguards dharma and purifies devotees. Remembering this act supports Liṅga-worship by emphasizing humility and surrender—approaching the Liṅga not as mere ritual, but as devotion that dissolves pride and aligns one with Śiva’s lordship.
A practical takeaway is disciplined Bhairava-upāsanā in Kāśī-spirit: japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a vow of humility, and (where traditional) applying Tripuṇḍra bhasma as a reminder that ego is to be reduced to ash under Śiva’s grace.