Shloka 14

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

Devanagari script

प्रवर्तको हि जगतामहमेव निवर्त्तकः । संवर्तको मदधिको नान्यः कश्चित्सुरोत्तमाः

Transliteration

pravartako hi jagatāmahameva nivarttakaḥ | saṃvartako madadhiko nānyaḥ kaścitsurottamāḥ

Translation

జగత్తుల ప్రవర్తకుడు నేనే, వాటి నివర్తకుడూ నేనే. ప్రళయంలోనూ నాకన్నా అధికుడు ఎవడూ లేడు; ఓ దేవోత్తములారా, నన్ను మించేవాడు మరెవ్వరూ లేరు.

Word by Word

• प्रवर्तकः: initiator/one who sets in motion
• प्रवर्तकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; अहम्-समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्र-√वृत् (धातु) + ण्वुल्/अक (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्तरि कृदन्त (agent noun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; निश्चयार्थे (indeed)

• जगताम्: of the worlds
• जगताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुष सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एव: alone/only
• एव: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/Restriction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis/only)

• निवर्तकः: withdrawer/one who causes cessation
• निवर्तकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; अहम्-समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नि-√वृत् (धातु) + ण्वुल्/अक (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्तरि कृदन्त (agent noun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• संवर्तकः: dissolver/one who brings about reabsorption
• संवर्तकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; अहम्-समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्-√वृत् (धातु) + ण्वुल्/अक (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्तरि कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मत्-अधिकः: greater than me
• मत्-अधिकः: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-सम्बन्ध/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत् (अस्मद्-षष्ठी/प्रातिपदिक-रूप) + अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (predicative) संवर्तकस्य/अहम्; ‘मत्तः अधिकः’ (greater than me) इति अर्थे

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• अन्यः: another (one)
• अन्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; अस्ति-लोपे)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कश्चित्: anyone
• कश्चित्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; अन्यः इत्यस्य विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चित् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अनिश्चितार्थक सर्वनाम (indefinite pronoun: anyone)

• सुरोत्तमाः: O best of gods
• सुरोत्तमाः: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर-उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक; सुर + उत्तम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; संबोधनार्थे प्रयुक्तं स्यात् (O best of gods) इति; पाठे प्रथमा-बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a sthala narrative; it is a pañcakṛtya-oriented proclamation: Śiva as pravartaka (impeller) and nivartaka/saṃvartaka (withdrawer/dissolver).

Significance: Meditation on Śiva as the sole agent of pravṛtti and nivṛtti supports vairāgya and surrender (śaraṇāgati), orienting the devotee toward anugraha beyond cosmic cycles.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: saṃvarta (cosmic dissolution) alluded to as Śiva’s function

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse declares Shiva as the supreme Pati (Lord) who initiates manifestation and withdraws it at dissolution, guiding devotees to surrender beyond all limited deities and seek liberation through His grace.

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

By affirming Shiva’s unsurpassed lordship over creation and dissolution, it supports Linga worship as devotion to the all-pervading Supreme who is both beyond form (nirguṇa) and approachable through form (saguṇa) for bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice steady japa of the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha as aids, meditating on Shiva as the inner governor of arising and cessation.