Shloka 36

Bhaimaśaṅkara-māhātmya: Śiva’s Descent in Kāmarūpa and the Rise of Bhīma

Devanagari script

पुरा सुदक्षिणां तत्र कामरूपेश्वरं प्रभुम् । जेतुं गतस्ततस्तेन युद्धमासीद्भयंकरम्

Transliteration

purā sudakṣiṇāṃ tatra kāmarūpeśvaraṃ prabhum | jetuṃ gatastatastena yuddhamāsīdbhayaṃkaram

Translation

പൂർവകാലത്ത് സുദക്ഷിണാ ദേശത്തിൽ പ്രഭു കാമരൂപേശ്വരനെ ജയിക്കുവാൻ ഒരാൾ പുറപ്പെട്ടു; അതിനാൽ അവനോടൊപ്പം ഭയങ്കരമായ യുദ്ധം ഉദിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• पुरा: formerly, once
• पुरा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• सुदक्षिणाम्: Sudakṣiṇā (name)
• सुदक्षिणाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुदक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• कामरूपेश्वरम्: the Lord of Kāmarūpa
• कामरूपेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कामरूप + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कामरूपस्य ईश्वरः)

• प्रभुम्: the lord, master
• प्रभुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जेतुम्: to conquer
• जेतुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (infinitive), परस्मैपदी; अर्थः—‘to conquer’

• गतः: went
• गतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘gone/has gone’

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Hetu/Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: तस्मात्/ततः इत्यर्थे अव्यय (ablatival adverb: ‘then/from that’)

• तेन: by him/with him
• तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• युद्धम्: battle
• युद्धम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आसीत्: was
• आसीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect/past), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

• भयंकरम्: terrible, fearsome
• भयंकरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भयंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘yuddham’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Kāmarūpeśvara is invoked as the Lord of Kāmarūpa; the verse alludes to a regional Śiva-sthāna where challengers meet the sovereign deity, a common sthala-purāṇa pattern (asura attempts conquest → Śiva’s protection/response).

Significance: Marks Śiva as the unassailable Lord of the kṣetra; remembrance of the kṣetra and its Īśvara is said to confer protection and steadiness amid upheaval.

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Kṣetra-theophany context: conflict arises upon approaching a charged Śaiva sacred geography (kāmarūpa-kṣetra).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Kāmarūpeśvara)
• Sudakṣiṇā

FAQs

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

It frames the futility of trying to “conquer” Śiva by force—symbolically, the ego’s attempt to dominate the Supreme (Pati). In Shaiva Siddhanta, true victory is surrender and devotion, not opposition to the Lord’s will.

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

Kāmarūpeśvara is invoked as a personal Lord (Saguna Śiva) connected with sacred geography, aligning with Kotirudra’s Jyotirlinga-focused devotion where the Lord is approached through pilgrimage, worship, and reverence rather than challenge.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is to replace combative pride with Śiva-upāsanā: japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and humble Linga worship (with bhasma/tripuṇḍra and rudrākṣa where customary), seeking inner conquest over anger and ambition.