Shloka 59

Varaha-Pradurbhava Context: Prahlada’s Bhakti, Narasimha’s Ugra-Form, and Shiva’s Sharabha Intervention

Devanagari script

अभयं च ददौ तेषां हनिष्यामीति तं प्रभुः सो ऽपि शक्रः सुरैः सार्धं प्रणिपत्य यथागतम्

Transliteration

abhayaṃ ca dadau teṣāṃ haniṣyāmīti taṃ prabhuḥ so 'pi śakraḥ suraiḥ sārdhaṃ praṇipatya yathāgatam

Translation

Der Herr gewährte ihnen Furchtlosigkeit und sprach: „Ich werde ihn erschlagen.“ Da verneigte sich auch Śakra (Indra) zusammen mit den Devas ehrfürchtig und zog fort, wie er gekommen war.

Word by Word

• abhayam: fearlessness, protection

• ca: and

• dadau: gave, granted

• teṣām: to them

• haniṣyāmi iti: “I will kill (him),” thus

• tam: him/that one

• prabhuḥ: the Lord, the Sovereign (Pati)

• saḥ api: he also

• śakraḥ: Indra

• suraiḥ sārdham: along with the gods

• praṇipatya: having prostrated, having bowed down

• yathāgatam: as (they) came, in the same manner

• (jagāma): departed (implied).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purāṇic account to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Indra (Shakra)
• Devas (Suras)

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It frames Shiva as the supreme Pati who grants abhaya (divine protection) to devotees and Devas—an inner fruit of Linga-bhakti where surrender leads to grace and removal of fear.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Shiva appears as Prabhu (Sovereign Lord): the decisive agent who protects, commands outcomes, and bestows anugraha—showing Pati’s mastery over events that bind the pashu under pasha.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Praṇipāta (prostration/surrender) is highlighted—central to Shaiva discipline: humility before Pati, which supports Pāśupata-oriented devotion and receptivity to Shiva’s protective grace.