Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

भक्षणार्थं गतौ तत्र कुद्धेन सुमहात्मना । सुतीक्ष्णेन सुतपसाऽगस्त्यशिष्येण वै तदा

Transliteration

bhakṣaṇārthaṃ gatau tatra kuddhena sumahātmanā | sutīkṣṇena sutapasā'gastyaśiṣyeṇa vai tadā

Translation

అప్పుడు భక్షణార్థం అక్కడికి వెళ్లిన ఆ ఇద్దరిని మహాత్ముడు సుతీక్ష్ణుడు ఎదుర్కొన్నాడు; అతడు అగస్త్యుని శిష్యుడు, ఘోర తపస్సుతో ఉగ్రక్రోధుడై ఉన్నాడు.

Word by Word

• भक्षणार्थम्: for eating
• भक्षणार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भक्षण + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुषसमासः; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (purpose adverbial: ‘भक्षणाय’/for eating)

• गतौ: (they) went
• गतौ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + क्त
• Form: क्त-कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; ‘पितरौ’ (पूर्वश्लोकसंबन्ध) इत्यस्य विधेय

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• क्रुद्धेन: angry
• क्रुद्धेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; ‘सुमहात्मना’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• सुमहात्मना: by the very great-souled one
• सुमहात्मना: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (‘सु-महात्मा’/very great-souled)

• सुतीक्ष्णेन: by Sutīkṣṇa
• सुतीक्ष्णेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुतीक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

• सुतपसा: of good austerity/very ascetic
• सुतपसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुतपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; ‘सुतीक्ष्णेन’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• अगस्त्यशिष्येण: by the disciple of Agastya
• अगस्त्यशिष्येण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अगस्त्य + शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘अगस्त्यस्य शिष्यः’)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: A tapasvin (Sutīkṣṇa, Agastya’s disciple) confronts devouring beings; the episode reads as dharma-protection through ascetic power rather than a named Jyotirliṅga origin in this verse.

Significance: Highlights the sanctity of tapas-kṣetra and the protective power that accrues to dharma-aligned austerity—prefiguring Śiva’s protection of devotees.

Characters & Entities

• Sutīkṣṇa
• Agastya

FAQs

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

The verse highlights tapas (disciplined austerity) as a dharmic power that protects sacred order; in a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, such self-purified energy becomes an instrument for restraining chaos and upholding the Lord’s cosmic law.

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

In Kotirudra narratives, threats near holy regions are checked by devotees and sages; this supports the idea that Saguna Shiva’s sacred presence (often centered on a Linga/teertha) is safeguarded through devotion, purity, and dharmic vigilance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is tapas aligned with Shiva-bhakti—regular japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), observance of vrata, and purity disciplines—so one’s inner force is used for protection of dharma rather than ego-driven anger.