Shloka 31

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

Devanagari script

कथम्प्रमथनाथोऽसौ रममाणो निरन्तरम् । दिगम्बरः पीतवर्णो शिवया धूलिधूसरः

Transliteration

kathampramathanātho'sau ramamāṇo nirantaram | digambaraḥ pītavarṇo śivayā dhūlidhūsaraḥ

Translation

कथं प्रमथनाथोऽसौ निरन्तरं रममाणः? दिगम्बरः पीतवर्णः, शिवया सह धूलिधूसरः।

Word by Word

• कथम्: how?
• कथम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• प्रमथ-नाथः: lord of the Pramathas
• प्रमथ-नाथः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमथ (प्रातिपदिक) + नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (प्रमथानां नाथः)

• असौ: that one (he)
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; निर्देशवाचक

• रममाणः: sporting, delighting
• रममाणः: Karta (कर्ता; participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रम् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्), आत्मनेपद-प्रयोग; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• निरन्तरम्: continuously
• निरन्तरम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: निरन्तर (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• दिगम्बरः: sky-clad (naked)
• दिगम्बरः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिक् (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (दिशः अम्बरं यस्य)

• पीत-वर्णः: of yellow complexion
• पीत-वर्णः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीत (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (पीतः वर्णः यस्य)

• शिवया: with Śivā (Pārvatī)
• शिवया: Sahakarana (सहकारण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• धूलि-धूसरः: dust-grey, covered with dust
• धूलि-धूसरः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धूलि (प्रातिपदिक) + धूसर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (धूल्या धूसरः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhikṣāṭana

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It presents Shiva’s Saguna līlā: though the supreme Lord, he remains utterly detached (digambara) and yet lovingly united with Śivā, showing that liberation and divine intimacy coexist in Shaiva Siddhānta.

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

The verse highlights Shiva’s approachable, iconic form—Lord of the gaṇas, ash/dust-besmeared, and united with Śivā—supporting Saguna upāsanā that culminates in realizing the same supreme Shiva signified by the Liṅga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to bhasma-dhāraṇa (Tripuṇḍra) with remembrance of Shiva as digambara and Pramathanātha, cultivating vairāgya (detachment) alongside bhakti; chanting “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” aligns the mind with this ideal.