Shloka 15

शारभावतारवर्णनम्

Account of Śiva’s Śārabha Manifestation and the Measureless Avatāras

Devanagari script

देवर्षिकदनं चक्रे सर्वधर्म विलोपकः । द्विजपीडाकरः पापी हिरण्यकशिपुर्मुने

Transliteration

devarṣikadanaṃ cakre sarvadharma vilopakaḥ | dvijapīḍākaraḥ pāpī hiraṇyakaśipurmune

Translation

O sage, the sinful Hiraṇyakaśipu brought ruin upon the divine seers; he became a destroyer of all dharma and a tormentor of the twice-born (brāhmaṇas).

Word by Word

• देवर्षिकदनम्: slaughter of divine sages
• देवर्षिकदनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवर्षि + कदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: देवर्षीणां कदनम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• चक्रे: did/committed
• चक्रे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• सर्वधर्मविलोपकः: destroyer of all dharma
• सर्वधर्मविलोपकः: Karta (कर्ता; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वधर्म + विलोपक (प्रातिपदिक); वि + लुप् (धातु) + ण्वुल्
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: सर्वधर्मस्य विलोपकः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• द्विजपीडाकरः: tormentor of Brahmins
• द्विजपीडाकरः: Karta (कर्ता; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज + पीडा + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: द्विजानां पीडाकरः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पापी: sinful
• पापी: Visheshana (विशेषण; of कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पापिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• हिरण्यकशिपुः: Hiraṇyakaśipu
• हिरण्यकशिपुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिरण्यकशिपु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga setting; the verse intensifies adharma—harm to ṛṣis and dvijas—marking the thickening of pāśa (bondage) in the world-order.

Characters & Entities

• Hiranyakashipu
• Devarishis
• Dharma
• Dvijas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights adharma as a spiritual downfall: harming sages and suppressing sacred order obstructs inner purity and invites karmic consequence, while Shaiva dharma upholds reverence for tapas, truth, and the protectors of spiritual knowledge.

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

By condemning the persecution of sages and dharma, the verse implicitly affirms the Shaiva path where Linga worship symbolizes alignment with cosmic order (ṛta/dharma) and devotion to Saguna Shiva expressed through humility, restraint, and protection of sacred practice.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is dharma-sādhana: daily japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), honoring teachers and ascetics, and maintaining purity of conduct—supported by traditional Shaiva observances like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of discipline.