Shloka 47

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

Devanagari script

वरं वृणीष्व गोविंद वरदोऽस्मि तवानघ । अग्रणीर्मम भक्तानां त्वं हरे निर्विकारवान्

Transliteration

varaṃ vṛṇīṣva goviṃda varado'smi tavānagha | agraṇīrmama bhaktānāṃ tvaṃ hare nirvikāravān

Translation

“Pilihlah anugerah, wahai Govinda; wahai yang tanpa noda, aku adalah pemberi anugerah bagimu. Wahai Hari, engkau yang terdepan di antara para bhaktaku—teguh dan tanpa perubahan.”

Word by Word

• varam: a boon
• varam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vṛṇīṣva: choose (for yourself)
• vṛṇīṣva: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛ (वृञ्, धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• govinda: O Govinda
• govinda: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: govinda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• varadaḥ: boon-giving
• varadaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक) + da (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘giver of boons’

• asmi: I am
• asmi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• tava: of you; your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); pronoun (सर्वनाम)

• anagha: O sinless one
• anagha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anagha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• agraṇīḥ: leader; foremost
• agraṇīḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agraṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• mama: of me; my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); pronoun (सर्वनाम)

• bhaktānām: of devotees
• bhaktānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); pronoun (सर्वनाम)

• hare: O Hari
• hare: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• nir-vikāra-vān: unchanging; without modification
• nir-vikāra-vān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + vikāra (प्रातिपदिक) + vat (प्रातिपदिक-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘possessing absence of change’

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Models the ideal of Hari as a paradigmatic devotee of Śiva; inspires sectarian harmony and reinforces that Śiva’s grace (anugraha) is accessible even to other deities through bhakti.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It presents Shiva as Varada (the grace-bestowing Lord) and upholds unwavering, change-free devotion (nirvikāra-bhakti) as the hallmark of the foremost devotee—pointing to purity of heart as the basis of divine grace.

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

By portraying Shiva as personally granting boons, the verse supports Saguna-upasana—approaching Shiva as a compassionate Lord who responds to devotion; Linga worship similarly treats the Linga as the accessible, grace-giving form of Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate steady bhakti through japa and worship with a calm, unmodified mind—classically supported in Shaiva practice by Panchakshara japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and regular Shiva-puja.