Shiva Purana — Vidyesvara Samhita, Shloka 74

रुद्राक्ष-माहात्म्य

Rudrākṣa Māhātmya — The Greatness of Rudraksha

Devanagari script

भैरवो नववक्त्रश्च कपिलश्च मुनिः स्मृतः । दुर्गा वात दधिष्ठात्री नवरूपा महेश्वरी

Transliteration

bhairavo navavaktraśca kapilaśca muniḥ smṛtaḥ | durgā vāta dadhiṣṭhātrī navarūpā maheśvarī

Translation

他被忆念为“怖畏者”婆罗婆（Bhairava），为“九面者”那伐伐克特罗（Navavaktra），亦为圣贤迦毗罗（Kapila）。她是难近母杜尔迦（Durgā）——主宰生命之风（vāta）的摄持力、扶持者；亦是大自在女神摩诃湿伐梨（Maheshvarī），现九种形相。

Word by Word

• भैरवः: Bhairava
• भैरवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भैरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नववक्त्रः: the nine-faced (one)
• नववक्त्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नव (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• कपिलः: Kapila
• कपिलः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• मुनिः: sage
• मुनिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्मृतः: is said/remembered (as)
• स्मृतः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate participle)

• दुर्गा: Durgā
• दुर्गा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वात: Vāta (wind) / (textual uncertainty)
• वात: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; पाठभेद-संभवः: ‘वा’ (अव्यय) इति अपि संभवति

• दधिष्ठात्री: presiding goddess/overseer
• दधिष्ठात्री: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधिष्ठातृ (प्रातिपदिक; √स्था धातु-जन्य)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तृ-प्रत्ययान्त कर्तृवाचक (agent noun); पाठरूपम्: ‘अधिष्ठात्री’ अपेक्षितम्

• नवरूपा: nine-formed
• नवरूपा: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (नव रूपाणि यस्याः/या)

• महेश्वरी: Maheśvarī
• महेश्वरी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Bhairava)
• Kapila
• Durga
• Maheshwari

FAQs

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

The verse presents Śiva and Śakti as manifesting many sacred names and forms—Bhairava, Navavaktra, and the Devi as Durgā and Navarūpā—teaching that the one Supreme Pati is approached through saguna manifestations, while His power (Śakti) sustains and governs the cosmos.

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

By listing recognizable forms and epithets, it supports saguna upāsanā: devotees may worship Śiva as Bhairava (protector and remover of fear) and honor Śakti as Mahēśvarī/Durgā, understanding the Liṅga as the unifying symbol of the same reality beyond these forms.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is nāma-japa with the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) alongside contemplative remembrance (smaraṇa) of Bhairava and the Devi’s nine forms; for ritual, Bhairava-focused worship may be paired with vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as Śaiva marks of discipline and devotion.