Shloka 18

शारभावतारवर्णनम्

Account of Śiva’s Śārabha Manifestation and the Measureless Avatāras

Devanagari script

सर्वथा मुनिशार्दूल करालं नृहरेर्व्वपुः । प्रजज्वालातिभयदं त्रासयन्दैत्यसत्तमान्

Transliteration

sarvathā muniśārdūla karālaṃ nṛharervvapuḥ | prajajvālātibhayadaṃ trāsayandaityasattamān

Translation

O tiger among sages, in every way the dreadful form of Nṛhari (Narasiṃha) blazed forth, terrifying beyond measure, striking dread into the foremost of the Daityas.

Word by Word

• सर्वथा: in every way
• सर्वथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• मुनिशार्दूल: O tiger among sages
• मुनिशार्दूल: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनिशार्दूल (प्रातिपदिक) = मुनि + शार्दूल
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (मुनिः एव शार्दूलः)

• करालम्: terrible, gaping
• करालम्: कर्तृ/कर्मविशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कराल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc) एकवचन; विशेषणम् वपुः

• नृहरेः: of Narahari (Man-Lion Lord)
• नृहरेः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृहरि (प्रातिपदिक) = नृ + हरि
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (नरः हरिः)

• वपुः: the body/form
• वपुः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• प्रजज्वाल: blazed forth
• प्रजज्वाल: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्वल् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; उपसर्गः प्र-

• अतिभयदम्: giving extreme fear
• अतिभयदम्: कर्तृविशेषण (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतिभयद (प्रातिपदिक) = अति + भय + द
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (अतिभयं ददाति इति) विशेषणम् वपुः

• त्रासयन्: frightening
• त्रासयन्: कर्तृकृदन्त (Agentive participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्रासय् (धातु) < त्रस् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; वपुषः/नृहरेः क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण

• दैत्यसत्तमान्: the best of the demons
• दैत्यसत्तमान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्यसत्तम (प्रातिपदिक) = दैत्य + सत्तम
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (दैत्याः ये सत्तमाः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Kālabhairava

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga; the blazing, terror-inducing epiphany is a purāṇic template for ‘ugra’ divinity that destroys adharma—functionally akin to Kālabhairava’s kṣetra-pāla role.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Nṛhari (Narasimha)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how a fierce saguna manifestation of the Divine arises to dissolve adharma and inner भय (fear) itself—teaching that when grace manifests, it burns away hostile forces and restores dharmic balance.

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

Though the verse names Nṛhari, the Shatarudrasaṃhitā emphasizes that the One Supreme (Śiva as Pati) can be approached through saguna forms that protect devotees; Linga-worship trains the mind to recognize the same Supreme Reality beyond form while honoring His compassionate manifestations within form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate the protective, fear-destroying aspect of the Lord while repeating the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and, if practiced in your tradition, apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder of impermanence and refuge in Śiva.