Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

किमर्थं भगवञ्छम्भो भिक्षाञ्चरसि शक्तिप । संशयो मे जगन्नाथ एष त्रैलोक्यराज्यद

Transliteration

kimarthaṃ bhagavañchambho bhikṣāñcarasi śaktipa | saṃśayo me jagannātha eṣa trailokyarājyada

Translation

“Com que propósito, ó Bem-aventurado Śambhu, Senhor do Poder (Śakti), Tu vagueias pedindo esmolas? Ó Senhor do universo, surgiu em mim uma dúvida—Tu és o doador da soberania sobre os três mundos.”

Word by Word

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); प्रश्नवाचक (interrogative)

• अर्थम्: purpose, reason
• अर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• भगवन्: O Blessed Lord
• भगवन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• शम्भो: O Śambhu
• शम्भो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śambhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• भिक्षाम्: alms
• भिक्षाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhikṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• चरसि: you roam/go about
• चरसि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √car (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• शक्तिप: O lord of Śakti
• शक्तिप: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaktipa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular); (पाठभेद/रूपभेद सम्भवः: शक्तिपते/शक्तिप)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃśaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• जगन्नाथ: O Lord of the world
• जगन्नाथ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat-nātha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• एषः: this
• एषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम (demonstrative pronoun)

• त्रैलोक्य-राज्य-द: giver of the kingdom of the three worlds
• त्रैलोक्य-राज्य-द: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: trailokya-rājya-da (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन/प्रथमा-सम्भाव्य (Vocative/Nominative possible by context), एकवचन (Singular); उपपद-समास: ‘त्रैलोक्यस्य राज्यं ददाति’ (giver of sovereignty of the three worlds)

Speaker

Parvati

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhikṣāṭana

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse anticipates the Bhikṣāṭana/Bhairava cycle: Śiva wanders as a mendicant to expiate Brahmahatyā and to teach detachment; some regional sthala traditions connect Bhikṣāṭana episodes to kṣetras like Kāśī, though not a fixed Jyotirliṅga claim here.

Significance: Contemplation of Śiva as the supreme giver who yet begs alms cultivates vairāgya and humility; pilgrims emulate bhikṣā and anna-dāna as complementary disciplines.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It highlights Shiva’s divine play of renunciation: though He is Pati (the Lord and giver of all powers), He demonstrates detachment and humility, teaching that true sovereignty is inner freedom rather than worldly possession.

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

As Saguna Shiva, Śambhu enacts accessible human-like conduct (seeking alms) to instruct devotees; Linga-worship similarly trains the mind to see the infinite Lord present even in simple, austere forms.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice bhakti with vairāgya: repeat the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while cultivating humility and non-attachment, offering simple alms/food in charity as an outward expression of Shiva’s teaching.