Shloka 54

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

Devanagari script

अथ च्छिन्नं विधिशिरो दृष्ट्वा भीततरो हरिः । शातरुद्रियमन्त्रैश्च भक्त्या तुष्टाव शङ्करम्

Transliteration

atha cchinnaṃ vidhiśiro dṛṣṭvā bhītataro hariḥ | śātarudriyamantraiśca bhaktyā tuṣṭāva śaṅkaram

Translation

తదుపరి విధి (బ్రహ్మ) యొక్క ఛిన్న శిరస్సును చూచి హరి (విష్ణు) మరింత భయపడెను; మరియు శతరుద్రీయ మంత్రాలతో భక్తితో శంకరుని స్తుతించెను.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक (then)

• च्छिन्नम्: cut off
• च्छिन्नम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छिद् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) → छिन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि (cut off)

• विधि-शिरः: Brahmā’s head
• विधि-शिरः: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक) + शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Brahmā’s head)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Absolutive; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund): having seen

• भीत-तरः: more frightened
• भीत-तरः: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीत (प्रातिपदिक; भी-धातोः क्त) + तर (तद्धित-प्रत्यय; comparative)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तुलनात्मक-विशेषण (more frightened)

• हरिः: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विष्णोर्नाम

• शातरुद्रिय-मन्त्रैः: with the Śātarudriya mantras
• शातरुद्रिय-मन्त्रैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शातरुद्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (Śātarudriya-mantras)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (and)

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• तुष्टाव: praised
• तुष्टाव: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तुष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; स्तुत्यर्थे (praised/satisfied by praising)

• शङ्करम्: Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• शङ्करम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: (Referenced) Śatarudrīya-mantrāḥ

Type: rudram

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Brahma

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that even the highest deities turn to Śiva in humility when confronted with the limits of power; devotion (bhakti) and praise of Rudra become the refuge, pointing to Śiva as Pati—the supreme Lord who grants protection and liberation.

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

By showing Hari praising Śaṅkara with sacred mantras, the text affirms Saguna worship—approaching Śiva through name, form, and mantra. Such praise is aligned with Linga-upāsanā, where the devotee venerates Śiva’s accessible presence while recognizing His transcendent supremacy.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Mantra-japa and stotra-pāṭha are implied—especially Rudra/Śatarudrīya recitation with bhakti. As a practical takeaway, one may perform Rudra-japa (or Namaka-style praise) with reverence, optionally supported by traditional Shaiva aids like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa.