Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

विष्णुरुवाच । किमिदन्देवदेवेन सर्वज्ञेन त्वया विभो । क्रियते जगतां धात्रा सर्वपापहराव्यय

Transliteration

viṣṇuruvāca | kimidandevadevena sarvajñena tvayā vibho | kriyate jagatāṃ dhātrā sarvapāpaharāvyaya

Translation

വിഷ്ണു പറഞ്ഞു: ഹേ ദേവദേവാ! ഹേ സർവ്വജ്ഞ വിഭോ! ലോകങ്ങളുടെ ധാതാ, അവ്യയ, സർവ്വപാപഹരാ—ഇത് നീ എന്തുകൊണ്ട് ചെയ്യുന്നു?

Word by Word

• viṣṇuḥ: Viṣṇu
• viṣṇuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

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

• kim: what?
• kim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; interrogative

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; apposition to ‘kim’

• deva-devena: by the God of gods
• deva-devena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• sarva-jñena: by (you) the all-knowing
• sarva-jñena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; विशेषणम्—‘tvayā’ (you)

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); सर्वनाम

• vibho: O Lord
• vibho: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• kriyate: is done / is being done
• kriyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्), Present, Ātmanepada; Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Singular; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (passive)

• jagatām: of the worlds / beings
• jagatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• dhātrā: by the creator/sustainer
• dhātrā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• sarva-pāpa-hara: O remover of all sins
• sarva-pāpa-hara: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + hara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; संबोधन—epithet

• avyaya: O imperishable one
• avyaya: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-vyaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; संबोधन—epithet ‘imperishable’

Speaker

Vishnu

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames Śiva as jagad-dhātṛ (support of worlds) and sarva-pāpa-hara; supports the theology behind seeking Śiva’s shrine for purification and protection.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It portrays Viṣṇu acknowledging Śiva as the supreme, all-knowing Pati (Lord) who still engages in divine action for the welfare and purification of beings—showing that grace (anugraha) can operate even when the Lord is complete and changeless.

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

By addressing Śiva as ‘Devadeva’ and ‘sarvapāpahara,’ the verse supports Saguna devotion—approaching the Lord through name, form, and praise (including Liṅga worship) to receive purification and protection while recognizing His imperishable transcendence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to seek sin-removal through Śiva-upāsanā: japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with devotion, supported by Śiva-pūjā such as offering water to the Liṅga and adopting Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder of purification.