Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

ममाज्ञया त्वया ब्रह्मन्सृष्टिरेषा विधी यते । जगतां जीवनं नैव मामनादृत्य चेश्वरम्

Transliteration

mamājñayā tvayā brahmansṛṣṭireṣā vidhī yate | jagatāṃ jīvanaṃ naiva māmanādṛtya ceśvaram

Translation

Wahai Brahmā, dengan perintah-Ku engkau menetapkan penciptaan ini. Tanpa memuliakan Aku—Tuhan Yang Maha Berkuasa—tiadalah kehidupan atau daya penopang bagi segala alam sama sekali.

Word by Word

• मम: my
• मम: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• आज्ञया: by (my) command
• आज्ञया: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण/हेतु

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahman (Brahmā)
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

• सृष्टिः: creation
• सृष्टिः: Karta/Pratipādya (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• एषा: this
• एषा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषण (सृष्टिः इत्यस्य)

• विधीयते: is ordained/is effected
• विधीयते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-धा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive)

• जगताम्: of the worlds/beings
• जगताम्: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• जीवनम्: life/sustenance
• जीवनम्: Karta/Pratipādya (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• एव: indeed/at all
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अनादृत्य: disregarding
• अनादृत्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अन्-आ-दृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘अवज्ञाय/अनादरं कृत्वा’ अर्थे

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• ईश्वरम्: the Lord
• ईश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘माम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणरूपेण अपि (apposition)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Affirms that all creative and sustaining powers (including Brahmā’s sṛṣṭi) operate only under Śiva’s īśvaratva; pilgrimage/pujā is framed as aligning oneself with the Lord’s command (ājñā) to receive vitality (jīvana) and order (ṛta).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

The verse establishes Shiva as Pati (the Supreme Lord) whose will empowers Brahma’s creative function; without Shiva’s grace and acknowledgment, the worlds have no sustaining life-force.

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

It supports Saguna worship by affirming Shiva as the personal Lord (Īśvara) who actively governs creation; the Linga signifies that same supreme authority and presence as the ground of all life.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice reverential surrender to Shiva through japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and daily remembrance that all actions succeed only by the Lord’s command and grace.