Shloka 59

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

Devanagari script

अथ विष्णुविधी ज्ञात्वा विगर्वौ परमेश्वरः । प्रसन्नोऽभून्महादेवोऽकरोत्तावभयौ प्रभुः

Transliteration

atha viṣṇuvidhī jñātvā vigarvau parameśvaraḥ | prasanno'bhūnmahādevo'karottāvabhayau prabhuḥ

Translation

ನಂತರ ಪರಮೇಶ್ವರ ಮಹಾದೇವನು ವಿಷ್ಣು ಮತ್ತು ವಿಧಾತ (ಬ್ರಹ್ಮ) ಅವರ ಉದ್ದೇಶವನ್ನು ತಿಳಿದು, ಅವರನ್ನು ಗರ್ವರಹಿತರಾಗಿ ಕಂಡು ಪ್ರಸನ್ನನಾದನು; ಆ ಪ್ರಭುವು ಇಬ್ಬರಿಗೂ ಅಭಯವನ್ನು ನೀಡಿದನು.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (particle) “then/now”

• विष्णु: Viṣṇu
• विष्णु: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), द्विवचन; (समासे पूर्वपद)

• विधी: Brahmā (Vidhī)
• विधी: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), द्विवचन; (समासे उत्तरपद)

• ज्ञात्वा: having understood
• ज्ञात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive) “having known/understood”

• विगर्वौ: both free from pride
• विगर्वौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + गर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), द्विवचन; विशेषण—विष्णुविधी; “free from pride”

• परमेश्वरः: the Supreme Lord
• परमेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—“परमः ईश्वरः”

• प्रसन्नः: pleased
• प्रसन्नः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण—परमेश्वरः/महादेवः

• अभूत्: became
• अभूत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• महादेवः: Mahādeva
• महादेवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—“महान् देवः”

• अकरोत्: made/did
• अकरोत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• तौ: those two/them both
• तौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), द्विवचन; सर्वनाम

• अभयौ: fearless/safe
• अभयौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), द्विवचन; विशेषण—तौ; “fearless/safe”

• प्रभुः: the Lord
• प्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; (परमेश्वरस्य पुनर्नाम)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Models the fruit of humility: Śiva’s prasāda culminating in abhayadāna (fearlessness), a classic marker of divine grace and protection.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: अथ विष्णुविधी ज्ञात्वा विगर्वौ परमेश्वरः । प्रसन्नोऽभून्महादेवोऽकरोत्तावभयौ प्रभुः

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It teaches that when pride dissolves, Śiva’s anugraha (grace) naturally arises—granting abhayam (inner and outer fearlessness) and restoring dharmic order.

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

Saguna Śiva, approached through Linga-worship, is portrayed as the compassionate Lord who responds to surrender; His blessing of fearlessness is a fruit of devotion and humility before the Supreme.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice ego-reducing devotion: japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a prayer for abhayam, and offer Tripuṇḍra-bhasma as a reminder of surrender to Śiva’s protection.