Shloka 32

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

Devanagari script

विरूपवेषो जटिलो वृषगो व्यालभूषणः । परं ब्रह्मत्वमापन्नः क्व च तत्संगवर्जितम्

Transliteration

virūpaveṣo jaṭilo vṛṣago vyālabhūṣaṇaḥ | paraṃ brahmatvamāpannaḥ kva ca tatsaṃgavarjitam

Translation

“祂衣相奇异，发结成髻，乘牛而行，以蛇为饰；却已证得至上梵（Brahman）之境。然则祂又岂有一刻、一处，能离于‘彼’（梵）的相应与同在？”

Word by Word

• विरूप-वेषः: of strange appearance/attire
• विरूप-वेषः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विरूप (प्रातिपदिक) + वेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (विरूपः वेषः यस्य)

• जटिलः: matted-haired
• जटिलः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जटिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वृषगः: bull-going/bull-mounted
• वृषगः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृषग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (अर्थे: वृषभ-गः/वृषभ-वाहः इति)

• व्याल-भूषणः: adorned with serpents
• व्याल-भूषणः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्याल (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (व्यालैः भूषणम्/भूषितः)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• ब्रह्मत्वम्: state of Brahmanhood
• ब्रह्मत्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आपन्नः: having attained
• आपन्नः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + पद् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त) from √पद्; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicative participle

• क्व: where?
• क्व: Desha-adhikarana (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्व (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb: where?)

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

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma/Pratiyogi (कर्म/निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; निर्देशवाचक

• सङ्ग-वर्जितम्: devoid of attachment
• सङ्ग-वर्जितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्जित (कृदन्त, √वृज्/वर्ज्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (सङ्गेन वर्जितम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It reconciles Shiva’s ascetic, fearsome outer form with His highest reality: He is the Supreme Brahman, and His seeming “odd” appearance does not limit His transcendence; He is never separated from the Absolute.

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

It teaches that Saguna symbols—matted locks, bull (Nandi), serpents—are not merely mythic ornaments but sacred indicators of the same Supreme Reality; thus Linga-worship and form-worship lead to realization of Shiva as Para-Brahman.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva’s Saguna form (jaṭā, vṛṣa, nāga-bhūṣaṇa) while repeating the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” contemplating that the visible form is inseparable from the Nirguna Supreme.