Shloka 62

भैरवावतारवर्णनम् (Bhairavāvatāra-varṇanam) — “Description of the Descent/Manifestation of Bhairava”

Devanagari script

ब्रह्महत्यापनोदाय व्रतं लोकाय दर्शय । चर त्वं सततं भिक्षां कपालव्रतमाश्रितः

Transliteration

brahmahatyāpanodāya vrataṃ lokāya darśaya | cara tvaṃ satataṃ bhikṣāṃ kapālavratamāśritaḥ

Translation

Pour expier le péché d’avoir tué un brahmane et offrir un exemple au monde, prends ce vœu. Va sans cesse de lieu en lieu, vivant toujours d’aumônes, ayant adopté le Kapāla-vrata, l’observance du mendiant portant le crâne.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्महत्या: Brahmin-slaying (sin)
• ब्रह्महत्या: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध/Relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्महत्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (contextual in compound); समासाङ्ग (feminine stem)

• अपनोदाय: for removing
• अपनोदाय: प्रयोजन (हेतु/Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप + नुद् (धातु) → अपनोद (कृदन्त, तुमुन्/तुमर्थे)
• Form: कृदन्त अव्ययभावार्थे; तुमुनन्त/तुमर्थक (infinitival purpose) — ‘to remove’

• व्रतम्: vow
• व्रतम्: कर्म (कर्मपद/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• लोकाय: to the world
• लोकाय: सम्प्रदान (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Dative singular)

• दर्शय: show
• दर्शय: क्रिया (आज्ञार्थक/Command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• चर: wander/practise
• चर: क्रिया (आज्ञार्थक/Command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, मध्यमपुरुष, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• सततम्: always
• सततम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverb)

• भिक्षाम्: alms
• भिक्षाम्: कर्म (कर्म/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• कपालव्रतम्: the skull-vow
• कपालव्रतम्: कर्म (कर्म/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपाल (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कपालस्य व्रतम्)

• आश्रितः: having resorted to
• आश्रितः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Agent qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + श्रि (धातु) → आश्रित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘having resorted to’

Speaker

Lord Shiva (instructor of a penance/vrata for expiation and world-teaching)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Bhikṣāṭana

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: The Kapāla-vrata is prescribed as prāyaścitta and as loka-śikṣā (world-instruction), a narrative strand that in Kāśī traditions culminates in the cutting of pāśa and bestowal of mokṣa under Viśveśvara’s sovereignty.

Significance: Frames renunciation, alms, and humility as preparatory disciplines; in Kāśī, such disciplines are said to ripen quickly into liberation through Śiva’s grace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that even the gravest karmic stain is purified through disciplined vrata, humility, and public adherence to dharma—transforming suffering into a path of purification under Shiva’s guidance.

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

The Kapāla-vrata reflects Saguna Shiva as the compassionate Lord who prescribes concrete disciplines for purification; such observances traditionally culminate in renewed Shiva-bhakti and reverent worship of Shiva’s sacred forms, including the Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A penitential mendicant discipline: wandering, living on bhiksha (alms), and maintaining a strict vow (Kapāla-vrata), supported by repentance, restraint, and steady remembrance of Shiva (japa and dhyāna as appropriate to the vow).