Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

क्रीडेयन्तव देवेश त्रिलोचन महामते । किङ्कारणं विरूपाक्ष चेष्टितन्ते स्मरार्दन

Transliteration

krīḍeyantava deveśa trilocana mahāmate | kiṅkāraṇaṃ virūpākṣa ceṣṭitante smarārdana

Translation

தேவேசனே! திரிலோசனனே, மகாமதியே! விரூபாக்ஷனே, ஸ்மரார்தனனே! நீர் விளையாடிக் கொண்டிருந்தபோது—இந்தச் செயலைச் செய்ததற்குக் காரணம் என்ன?

Word by Word

• क्रीडेयन्त: O (one) who plays/sports
• क्रीडेयन्त: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √krīḍ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधारण/खलु-अर्थ (indeed)

• देवेश: O Lord of gods
• देवेश: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva-īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• त्रिलोचन: O three-eyed one
• त्रिलोचन: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri-locana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular); बहुव्रीहिः ‘यस्य त्रयः लोचनानि’

• महामते: O great-minded one
• महामते: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-mati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular); बहुव्रीहिः ‘यस्य महती मतिः’

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

• कारणम्: reason, cause
• कारणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• विरूपाक्ष: O odd-eyed one (Virūpākṣa)
• विरूपाक्ष: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vi-rūpa-akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular); बहुव्रीहिः ‘यस्य विरूपे अक्षिणी’

• चेष्टितम्: act, behavior, deed
• चेष्टितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ceṣṭita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• ते: of you, your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• स्मरार्दन: O destroyer of Kāma (Smarārdana)
• स्मरार्दन: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: smara-ardana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the query within the Shatarudrasaṃhitā context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Nīlakaṇṭha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kama (Smara)

FAQs

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

The verse frames Śiva’s action as purposeful, not impulsive—pointing to the Siddhānta view that the Lord’s līlā removes bondage (especially kāma) and turns beings toward liberation through discernment and devotion.

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

By addressing Śiva through concrete epithets (Trilocana, Virūpākṣa, Smarārdana), the verse supports Saguna-upāsanā—devotees contemplate the Lord’s forms and deeds, which culminate in reverence for the Liṅga as the stable symbol of His transcendent reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to meditate on Śiva as Smarārdana while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), cultivating inner dispassion; on Mahāśivarātri, this is paired with bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and focused japa to subdue desire and steady the mind.