Shloka 43

स्वेच्छाविग्रहसंभव-प्रतिष्ठाफलवर्णनम् (विविधशिवमूर्तिप्रतिष्ठा, लोक-फल, शिवसायुज्य)

Devanagari script

बिभ्रतो वामहस्तेन कपालं ब्रह्मणो वरम् विष्णोः कलेवरं चैव बिभ्रतः परमेष्ठिनः

Transliteration

bibhrato vāmahastena kapālaṃ brahmaṇo varam viṣṇoḥ kalevaraṃ caiva bibhrataḥ parameṣṭhinaḥ

Translation

वामहस्तेन स भगवान् ब्रह्मणो वरं कपालं बिभ्रत्, परमेष्ठी च विष्णोः कलेवरं बिभ्रत्—देवानां प्रति स्वस्य परमाधिपत्यं प्रकाशयामास।

Word by Word

• bibhrataḥ: bearing, carrying

• vāma-hastena: with the left hand

• kapālam: skull (begging-bowl, skull-bowl)

• brahmaṇaḥ: of Brahmā

• varam: excellent, choice, eminent

• viṣṇoḥ: of Viṣṇu

• kalevaram: body, corporeal form

• ca eva: and indeed

• bibhrataḥ: (again) bearing/holding

• parameṣṭhinaḥ: of the Supreme Lord, the highest ruler (here indicating Śiva/Bhairava as Pati).

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Bhairava
• Brahma
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

The verse asserts Śiva as Pati—the supreme ground of all divine functions—so Linga-worship is directed to the ultimate Lord beyond limited cosmic offices, not merely to a sectarian deity.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

By depicting Śiva (as Bhairava/Parameṣṭhin) bearing Brahmā’s skull and even Viṣṇu’s body, it conveys Shiva-tattva as sovereign, independent, and capable of dissolving the pride of even the highest devas—Pati who transcends and governs creation, preservation, and withdrawal.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The imagery of the kapāla points to kapāla-symbolism found in Bhairava-oriented Śaiva practice—emphasizing vairāgya (dispassion), ego-cutting, and Pāśupata-style inner renunciation rather than an external ritual detail alone.