Shloka 32

Bhaimaśaṅkara-māhātmya: Śiva’s Descent in Kāmarūpa and the Rise of Bhīma

Devanagari script

राक्षसो गृहमागत्य ब्रह्माप्तातिबलस्तदा । मातरं प्रणिपत्याशु स भीमः प्राह गर्ववान्

Transliteration

rākṣaso gṛhamāgatya brahmāptātibalastadā | mātaraṃ praṇipatyāśu sa bhīmaḥ prāha garvavān

Translation

ततः स भीमः राक्षसः गृहमागत्य ब्रह्मलभ्यतुल्यपराक्रमः सन् शीघ्रं मातरं प्रणिपत्य गर्वोन्नतः सन् प्राह।

Word by Word

• राक्षसः: the demon
• राक्षसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• गृहम्: home
• गृहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; गन्तव्य-देश (goal)

• आगत्य: having come
• आगत्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + गम् (धातु) + ल्यप् (ल्यबन्त)
• Form: ल्यबन्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having come)

• ब्रह्माप्तातिबलः: having obtained immense strength from Brahmā
• ब्रह्माप्तातिबलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + आप्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + अतिबल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; समासः: ब्रह्म-आप्त (Brahmā-obtained) + अतिबल (very-strong) → ‘having obtained great strength from Brahmā’

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• मातरम्: (his) mother
• मातरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• प्रणिपत्य: having prostrated
• प्रणिपत्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + नि + पत् (धातु) + ल्यप् (ल्यबन्त)
• Form: ल्यबन्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having bowed down)

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु (अव्यय)
• Form: शीघ्रार्थक-अव्यय (adverb: quickly)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• भीमः: terrible
• भीमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• प्राह: said
• प्राह: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अह्/ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• गर्ववान्: proud
• गर्ववान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गर्ववत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive adjective)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• rakshasa
• mother

FAQs

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

It highlights how worldly power—especially power gained by boons—can inflate ego; Shaiva teaching stresses humility and surrender, because pride becomes a binding pāśa (bond) that veils grace.

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

The verse sets up the contrast between demonic self-assertion and the devotee’s attitude in Linga worship: approaching Saguna Shiva with namaskāra (reverent bowing) and dropping arrogance to become fit for Shiva’s anugraha (grace).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice inner and outer namaskāra: before japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and cultivate humility, consciously offering pride into Shiva as a mental pūjā.