Shiva Purana — Satarudra Samhita, Shloka 13

वीरभद्र-भैरव-आह्वानम् — Invocation of Vīrabhadra/Bhairava for Cosmic Reabsorption

Devanagari script

सान्त्वयन्बोधयादौ तं तेन किन्नोपशाम्यति । ततो मत्परमं भावं भैरवं सम्प्रदर्शय

Transliteration

sāntvayanbodhayādau taṃ tena kinnopaśāmyati | tato matparamaṃ bhāvaṃ bhairavaṃ sampradarśaya

Translation

先安慰并教诲他——为何如此仍不能安定？随后向他显现我至上的境界：那令人敬畏的怖畏天（Bhairava）本性。

Word by Word

• सान्त्वयन्: comforting
• सान्त्वयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सान्त्वय् (धातु; सान्त्वयति)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले (लट्-अर्थे) शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्तः; प्रथमा एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्ग (कर्तरि प्रयोगः) — Present active participle (śatṛ), nominative singular masculine

• बोधय: awaken / instruct
• बोधय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बुध् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थक), मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम् — Imperative, 2nd person singular, active

• आदौ: at first
• आदौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययम्; काल/क्रमवाचक क्रियाविशेषणम् — indeclinable adverb ‘at first’

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचनम् — masculine accusative singular (pronoun)

• तेन: by that / with that
• तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचनम् — instrumental singular (by that/with that)

• किम्: why? / what?
• किम्: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक अव्यय-प्रयोगः (किम् = ‘why/what’) — interrogative particle usage

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्ययम् — negation particle

• उपशाम्यति: becomes calm / is pacified
• उपशाम्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-शम् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमानकाल), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, आत्मनेपदम् — Present, 3rd person singular, middle

• ततः: then
• ततः: Desha-Kala (देश-काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय; तद्-तसिल्)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अपादान/क्रमवाचक — indeclinable ‘then/from there’

• मत्-परमम्: having me as the highest / devoted to me
• मत्-परमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + परम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मत् = मम, ‘of me’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम् — neuter accusative singular qualifying ‘भावम्’

• भावम्: state of mind / attitude
• भावम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचनम् — masculine accusative singular

• भैरवम्: fierce; Bhairava-like
• भैरवम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भैरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचनम् — masculine accusative singular (qualifying ‘भावम्’)

• सम्प्रदर्शय: show clearly / reveal
• सम्प्रदर्शय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-प्र-दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थक), मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम् — Imperative, 2nd person singular, active

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Bhairava

FAQs

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

It teaches a graded spiritual method: begin with gentle reassurance and instruction, and if the mind still does not settle, contemplate Śiva’s supreme Bhairava-tattva—an awe-filled vision that cuts fear, delusion, and ego, leading the soul toward Śiva-realization.

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

Bhairava here functions as a Saguna revelation of the Supreme (Pati). Like Linga-worship, it gives the mind a concrete, powerful form through which grace and inner stillness arise, ultimately pointing beyond form to Śiva’s highest reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa and dhyāna: first calm the mind through instruction and devotion, then meditate on Bhairava as Śiva’s fierce, protective presence—supported by Panchakshara japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and, where traditional, Tripuṇḍra bhasma and Rudrākṣa as aids to steadiness.