Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

एवमुक्त्वा हृषीकेशस्संप्रहृष्टतनूरुहः । प्रणिपत्य महादेवमिदमाह वृषध्वजम्

Transliteration

evamuktvā hṛṣīkeśassaṃprahṛṣṭatanūruhaḥ | praṇipatya mahādevamidamāha vṛṣadhvajam

Translation

ഇങ്ങനെ പറഞ്ഞ് ഹൃഷീകേശൻ (വിഷ്ണു) ആനന്ദത്തിൽ രോമാഞ്ചിതനായി; മഹാദേവനെ प्रणമിച്ച് വൃഷധ്വജൻ (ശിവൻ)നെ ഇങ്ങനെ അഭിസംബോധന ചെയ്തു।

Word by Word

• evam: thus
• evam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Prakāra-avyaya (प्रकार-अव्यय)

• uktvā: having spoken
• uktvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Ktvā-pratyaya (क्त्वा), Absolutive (अव्ययकृदन्त)

• hṛṣīkeśaḥ: Hṛṣīkeśa (Viṣṇu)
• hṛṣīkeśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛṣīka-īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• saṃprahṛṣṭa-tanū-ruhaḥ: whose body-hairs were thrilled (with joy)
• saṃprahṛṣṭa-tanū-ruhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃprahṛṣṭa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, from √hṛṣ) + tanū (प्रातिपदिक) + ruha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; बहुव्रीहिः—‘yasya tanūruḥ saṃprahṛṣṭaḥ’

• praṇipatya: having bowed down
• praṇipatya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-ṇam (धातु)
• Form: Ktvā/lyap (ल्यप्) absolutive form; ‘praṇipatya’

• mahādevam: Mahādeva
• mahādevam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• āha: said
• āha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ah (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्), Perfect; Parasmaipada; Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Singular

• vṛṣa-dhvajam: the Bull-bannered one (Śiva)
• vṛṣa-dhvajam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; बहुव्रीहिः—‘yasya dhvajaḥ vṛṣaḥ’ (epithet of Śiva)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the scene; the direct speaker within the verse is Vishnu/Hrishikesha)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Models the ideal approach to Śiva: praṇipāta (prostration) with bhāva (horripilation), a template for temple etiquette and inner surrender.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It highlights bhakti-lakṣaṇas (devotional signs) and śaraṇāgati (surrender): even Viṣṇu approaches Mahādeva with reverence, affirming Śiva as the supreme refuge (Pati) who grants grace and liberation.

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

The verse models Saguna-upāsanā through humble prostration to Śiva identified by a sacred iconographic name (Vṛṣadhvaja). Such reverence underlies Linga worship as a concrete focus for devotion leading the soul toward Śiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is namaskāra/prāṇipāta with heartfelt devotion—begin worship by bowing to Śiva, then offer prayer or japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with inner joy and humility.