Shloka 39

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

Devanagari script

प्रजज्वालाथ कोपेन ब्रह्मणः पञ्चमं शिरः । आवयोरन्तरे कोऽसौ बिभृयात्पुरुषाकृतिम्

Transliteration

prajajvālātha kopena brahmaṇaḥ pañcamaṃ śiraḥ | āvayorantare ko'sau bibhṛyātpuruṣākṛtim

Translation

Rồi bừng cháy vì phẫn nộ, Ngài thiêu đốt chiếc đầu thứ năm của Brahmā. “Giữa hai chúng ta, kẻ nào thật sự dám mang hình người và tự cho mình đứng làm kẻ trung gian?”

Word by Word

• prajajvāla: blazed forth
• prajajvāla: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra+√jval (ज्वल् धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक (then/now)

• kopena: with anger / due to anger
• kopena: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kopa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन (instrumental; cause)

• brahmaṇaḥ: of Brahmā
• brahmaṇaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन (genitive)

• pañcamam: fifth
• pañcamam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañcama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘śiraḥ’)

• śiraḥ: head
• śiraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (subject of ‘prajajvāla’)

• āvayoḥ: of us two
• āvayoḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष सर्वनाम (dual sense), षष्ठी/सप्तमी द्विवचन; here with ‘antare’ → षष्ठी द्विवचन (between us two)

• antare: between
• antare: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: antara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययभावे सप्तमी-एकवचनरूपम्; ‘antare’ = between (adverbial/locative usage)

• kaḥ: who?
• kaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• asau: that (person)
• asau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• bibhṛyāt: might bear/assume
• bibhṛyāt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhṛ (भृ धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• puruṣa-ākṛtim: a human form
• puruṣa-ākṛtim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + ākṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘puruṣasya ākṛtiḥ’

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Rudra)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Shiva as Pati (the Supreme Lord) who destroys pride and adharmic arrogance; Brahmā’s “fifth head” symbolizes inflated ego and false self-authority that must be purified for liberation.

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

It supports Saguna Shiva worship by portraying Rudra as the active, grace-bestowing Lord who corrects cosmic disorder; the Linga tradition emphasizes that Shiva is directly approachable without any ego-based ‘intermediary’ claims of superiority.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is ego-purification through japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and humble worship with bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) or Rudrāksha, cultivating surrender to Shiva rather than self-importance.