Shloka 53

शिवध्यानपूजनवर्णनम्

Description of Śiva Meditation and Worship

Devanagari script

भ्रुकुटीकुटिलं घोरं रक्तवृत्तत्रिलोचनम् । दंष्ट्रा करालं दुष्प्रेक्ष्यं स्फुरिताधरपल्लवम्

Transliteration

bhrukuṭīkuṭilaṃ ghoraṃ raktavṛttatrilocanam | daṃṣṭrā karālaṃ duṣprekṣyaṃ sphuritādharapallavam

Translation

భ్రూకుటి వంకరగా ముడుచుకొని భయంకరంగా ఉంది; మూడు నేత్రాలు గుండ్రంగా రక్తవర్ణం. దంష్ట్రలు వికరాళం, చూడలేనంత దుష్ప్రేక్ష్యం; పెదవులు కంపిస్తూ—ప్రభువు యొక్క ఉగ్ర, ఆశ్చర్యకర రూపం।

Word by Word

• bhrukuṭīkuṭilam: curved with a frown
• bhrukuṭīkuṭilam: Karma-visheshana (Object modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhrukuṭī-kuṭila (भ्रुकुटीकुटिल)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• ghoram: terrible
• ghoram: Karma-visheshana (Object modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (घोर)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• raktavṛttatrilocanam: having three red round eyes
• raktavṛttatrilocanam: Karma-visheshana (Object modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rakta-vṛtta-tri-locana (रक्तवृत्तत्रिलोचन)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• daṃṣṭrākarālam: dreadful with fangs
• daṃṣṭrākarālam: Karma-visheshana (Object modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daṃṣṭrā-karāla (दंष्ट्राकराल)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• duṣprekṣyam: difficult to look at
• duṣprekṣyam: Karma-visheshana (Object modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dur-pra-īkṣ (दुष्प्रेक्ष्य)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (Yat-pratyaya)

• sphuritādharapallavam: having a quivering sprout-like lower lip
• sphuritādharapallavam: Karma-visheshana (Object modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sphurita-adhara-pallava (स्फुरिताधरपल्लव)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It portrays Shiva’s fierce Saguna aspect (Rudra-bhava) that shatters ego and inner impurities; fear and awe become gateways to surrender, leading the bound soul (paśu) toward the Lord (Pati).

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

The verse emphasizes that the same Supreme who is worshiped as the Linga can also appear in a formidable personal form; both point to one Shiva—form is a grace-giving mode for devotees to concentrate and transform.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Shiva’s three eyes as awareness that burns karma, and steady the mind with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while offering reverence (namaskāra) to His awe-inspiring presence.