Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

एवं त्रिप्रकृतौ मोहात्परस्परजयैषिणौ । प्रोचतुर्निगमांश्चात्र प्रमाणे सर्वथा तनौ

Transliteration

evaṃ triprakṛtau mohātparasparajayaiṣiṇau | procaturnigamāṃścātra pramāṇe sarvathā tanau

Translation

Vì mê lầm bởi bản tính ba mặt của Prakṛti, cả hai đều khát cầu chiến thắng lẫn nhau. Trong việc này, họ cùng viện dẫn các Veda làm thẩm quyền, mỗi bên mọi cách khăng khăng giữ lấy chứng cứ của mình.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Prakāra-adhikaraṇa (प्रकाराधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• त्रि-प्रकृतौ: in the threefold nature
• त्रि-प्रकृतौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (त्रयः प्रकृतयः यस्यां/यत्र)

• मोहात्: from delusion
• मोहात्: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; अपादान/हेतु

• परस्पर-जय-एषिणौ: both desiring to conquer each other
• परस्पर-जय-एषिणौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परस्पर (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + जय (प्रातिपदिक) + एषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (परस्परस्य जयम् एषिणौ = seeking each other’s victory/defeat)

• प्रोचतुः: they two spoke/declared
• प्रोचतुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-उच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), द्विवचन; परस्मैपद

• निगमान्: the Vedas/scriptures
• निगमान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

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

• प्रमाणे: as authority/standard
• प्रमाणे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• सर्वथा: in every way
• सर्वथा: Prakāra-adhikaraṇa (प्रकाराधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: in every way)

• तनौ: in (their) body/person
• तनौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames doctrinal conflict as arising from guṇa-moha; pilgrimage and darśana are implied remedies by reorienting pramāṇa toward the Supreme (Śiva) rather than egoic victory.

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Vedas

FAQs

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

It shows how identification with the three guṇas of Prakṛti breeds delusion and competitive ego, even when one appeals to scripture; liberation requires turning from rivalry to the higher Pati (Shiva) who transcends guṇas.

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

The verse prepares the ground for Shiva’s revelation beyond partisan proof-texting: Saguna Shiva (as the Linga-manifest presence) becomes the living pramāṇa that resolves conflict and points to the Nirguna reality beyond the guṇas.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is guṇa-transcending worship—steady japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with humility—so scriptural study becomes devotion rather than a weapon for winning arguments.