Shloka 416

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

Devanagari script

त्रिशूलपाणिर्भालाक्षो नागोडुपविभूषणः । हिरण्यगर्भस्तं दृष्ट्वा विहसन्प्राह मोहितः

Transliteration

triśūlapāṇirbhālākṣo nāgoḍupavibhūṣaṇaḥ | hiraṇyagarbhastaṃ dṛṣṭvā vihasanprāha mohitaḥ

Translation

其手执三叉戟，额具天眼，身饰群蛇与新月；金胎者梵天见之，迷惑而微笑，遂开口言说。

Word by Word

• त्रिशूलपाणिः: one whose hand holds a trident
• त्रिशूलपाणिः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिशूल + पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष ‘त्रिशूलः पाणौ यस्य’ (epithet)

• भालाक्षः: forehead-eyed (three-eyed)
• भालाक्षः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाल + अक्षि/अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष ‘भाले अक्षि यस्य’ (forehead-eyed/three-eyed)

• नागोडुपविभूषणः: adorned with a serpent and the moon
• नागोडुपविभूषणः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग + उडुप + विभूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष ‘नागः उडुपं च विभूषणं यस्य’ (as ornaments)

• हिरण्यगर्भः: Hiraṇyagarbha (Brahmā)
• हिरण्यगर्भः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिरण्यगर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तम्: him
• तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/Adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive) ‘having seen’

• विहसन्: smiling/laughing
• विहसन्: कर्ता (Kartā/Agent of speaking)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + हस् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (Present Active Participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्राह: said
• प्राह: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अह्/ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘said’

• मोहितः: bewildered
• मोहितः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (हिरण्यगर्भस्य)

Speaker

Brahma (Hiraṇyagarbha)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Śiva as the supreme Pati whose manifested (saguṇa) form—trident, third eye, serpents, and moon—overwhelms even Brahmā, implying that cosmic intellect cannot fully grasp Śiva’s transcendence without grace and devotion.

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

It supports saguṇa-upāsanā by presenting Śiva’s sacred attributes as contemplative supports; such iconography and the Liṅga both point to the same Lord—formful for worship yet ultimately beyond form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as Triśūlapāṇi and Bhālākṣa while repeating the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”); visualize the crescent and serpents as symbols of mastery over time and fear, cultivating surrender to Śiva’s grace.