Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

सनत्कुमार नो वेत्ति महिमानं महेशितुः । चतुर्भुजोऽपि विष्णुर्वै चतुर्व्वक्त्रोऽपि वै विधिः

Transliteration

sanatkumāra no vetti mahimānaṃ maheśituḥ | caturbhujo'pi viṣṇurvai caturvvaktro'pi vai vidhiḥ

Translation

Ngay cả Sanatkumāra cũng không thật biết trọn vẹn uy linh của Maheśvara. Quả vậy, ngay cả Viṣṇu bốn tay và cả Brahmā bốn mặt (Đấng định đoạt) cũng không thể dò thấu oai quang của Ngài.

Word by Word

• सनत्कुमारः: Sanatkumāra
• सनत्कुमारः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनत्-कुमार (प्रातिपदिक; सनत् + कुमार)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• उ: indeed (particle)
• उ: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उ (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), पदपूरण/उद्गार (emphatic/expletive)

• वेत्ति: knows
• वेत्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• महिमानम्: greatness
• महिमानम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महिमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महेशितुः: of the Great Lord
• महेशितुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मह-ईशितृ (प्रातिपदिक; महा + ईशितृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• चतुर्भुजः: four-armed
• चतुर्भुजः: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-सम्बन्ध/Descriptive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्-भुज (प्रातिपदिक; चतुर् + भुज)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण विष्णोः

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपवाद (also/even)

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• चतुर्वक्त्रः: four-faced
• चतुर्वक्त्रः: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-सम्बन्ध/Descriptive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्-वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक; चतुर् + वक्त्र)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण विधेः

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपवाद (also/even)

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

• विधिः: Brahmā (the Ordainer)
• विधिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Establishes Śiva’s ananta-mahimā beyond even the highest cosmic functionaries; fosters humility and śaraṇāgati, prerequisites for receiving anugraha.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Brahma
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It declares Shiva as the supreme Pati whose greatness is infinite—beyond the full grasp of even the highest gods and sages—guiding the seeker toward humility, surrender, and devotion as the doorway to grace.

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

Since Shiva’s mahimā is immeasurable, the Linga serves as the accessible Saguna focus through which devotees approach the transcendent (Nirguna) reality of Shiva, receiving His anugraha (saving grace).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Take refuge in Shiva-bhakti: japa of the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with reverence, and steady meditation on the Shiva-Linga as the symbol of the limitless Lord.