Shloka 8
कपाली भीषणश्चैव संहारश्चाष्ट भैरवाः / रतिः प्रीतिः कामदेवः पञ्च बाणाश्च योगिनी
kapālī bhīṣaṇaścaiva saṃhāraścāṣṭa bhairavāḥ / ratiḥ prītiḥ kāmadevaḥ pañca bāṇāśca yoginī
Kapālī, Bhīṣaṇa dan Saṃhāra—mereka termasuk dalam lapan Bhairava. Rati dan Prīti, Kāmadeva, serta lima anak panah (pañca-bāṇa) turut disebut, bersama kuasa-kuasa Yoginī.
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)
Concept: Non-dual integration of opposites: fierce dissolution (saṃhāra/bhīṣaṇa) and desire/affection (kāma, rati, prīti) are both energies to be recognized and mastered within sādhana.
Vedantic Theme: Transformation of rāga-dveṣa into sādhana: the same mind-forces become instruments when placed under awareness and devotion.
Application: Observe how emotions (fear, desire, affection) can be disciplined; in practice, keep vows/niyamas and avoid literalizing power-symbols into harmful behavior.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Type: mandala/ritual-cosmos (implied)
Related Themes: Nearby maṇḍala-dhyāna and Tripurā-sādhana verses (1.24.9–1.24.10) that operationalize these deity-lists
FAQs
This verse preserves a traditional enumeration of fierce protective forms (Bhairavas), used in Purāṇic and ritual contexts to indicate specific divine functions such as protection and dissolution.
It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; rather, it catalogs divine powers and personified forces, which in the broader Purāṇic framework underpin ritual, protection, and cosmic governance.
Use it as a reference for correct deity-names in study, chanting, or temple/ritual documentation, and as a reminder that desires (Kāma and his “arrows”) should be understood and disciplined rather than blindly followed.