Shloka 12

Bhairavaśāpavṛttāntaḥ

The Episode of Bhairava’s Curse and Consolation

Devanagari script

तत्स्नेहतः शिवः सोपि क्षिताववतरद्विभुः । शिवया सह सल्लीलो लौकिकीङ्गतिमाश्रितः

Transliteration

tatsnehataḥ śivaḥ sopi kṣitāvavataradvibhuḥ | śivayā saha sallīlo laukikīṅgatimāśritaḥ

Translation

ಆ ಸ्नेಹದಿಂದ ಪ್ರೇರಿತನಾಗಿ ಸರ್ವವ್ಯಾಪಿ ವಿಭು ಶ್ರೀಶಿವನೂ ಭೂಮಿಗೆ ಅವತರಿಸಿದನು. ಶಿವಾ (ಪಾರ್ವತಿ)ಯೊಂದಿಗೆ ಕೃಪಾಮಯನಾಗಿ ಲೀಲಾಮಯನಾಗಿ ಲೋಕಾಚಾರವನ್ನು ಆಶ್ರಯಿಸಿ ಜೀವಹಿತಾರ್ಥ ತನ್ನ ಲೀಲೆಯನ್ನು ಪ್ರಕಟಿಸಿದನು.

Word by Word

• तत्-स्नेहतः: due to that affection
• तत्-स्नेहतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + स्नेह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव (ablatival adverb): पञ्चमी-अर्थे 'from/owing to that affection'

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारक अव्यय (particle: also/even)

• क्षितौ: on the earth
• क्षितौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• अवतरत्: descended
• अवतरत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-तॄ (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: अव

• विभुः: the all-powerful one
• विभुः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; शिवस्य विशेषणरूपेण

• शिवया: with Śivā (Pārvatī)
• शिवया: Sahakaraka (सह/साकं)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakaraka (सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सहार्थक अव्यय (preposition/adverb: with)

• सत्-लीलः: sportive/with charming play
• सत्-लीलः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक) + लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय; विशेषण

• लौकिकीम्: worldly
• लौकिकीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लौकिकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying गतिम्)

• गतिम्: state/condition/way
• गतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आश्रितः: having assumed/resorted to
• आश्रितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-श्रि (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपसर्ग: आ

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a specific Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse frames Śiva’s compassionate descent (avatāra) as līlā for loka-saṅgraha (welfare of beings).

Significance: Hearing/remembering Śiva’s avatāra-līlā is presented as grace-bearing (anugraha) and purificatory, preparing the paśu (bound soul) for release from pāśa (bondage).

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: avatāra (descent) for loka-anugraha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva as Pati (the Supreme Lord) who freely descends out of compassion and love, taking a relatable, worldly demeanor while remaining transcendent—so beings may receive grace through His līlā and devotion.

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

By describing Śiva’s descent with Śivā and His adoption of a worldly mode, the verse supports Saguna upāsanā: devotees can approach the Lord through form, līlā, and symbols like the Liṅga, which make the transcendent accessible without denying His supreme nature.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is līlā-smaraṇa with japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—offered with bhakti, seeing Śiva as compassionately present in the world.