Shloka 20

शारभावतारवर्णनम्

Account of Śiva’s Śārabha Manifestation and the Measureless Avatāras

Devanagari script

महायुद्धं तयोरासीन्मुहूर्त्तम्मुनिसत्तमाः । विकरालं च भयदं सर्वेषां रोमहर्षणम्

Transliteration

mahāyuddhaṃ tayorāsīnmuhūrttammunisattamāḥ | vikarālaṃ ca bhayadaṃ sarveṣāṃ romaharṣaṇam

Translation

O best of sages, for a while there arose between those two a great battle—terrifying in form, fear-inducing, and causing the hair of all to stand on end.

Word by Word

• महायुद्धम्: a great battle
• महायुद्धम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महायुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) = महा + युद्ध
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; Karmadhāraya compound

• तयोः: of the two (of them)
• तयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), द्विवचन; Genitive dual pronoun

• आसीत्: was
• आसीत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; parasmaipada

• मुहूर्त्तम्: for a muhūrta (a short time)
• मुहूर्त्तम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुहूर्त्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; adverbial accusative of duration

• मुनिसत्तमाः: O best of sages
• मुनिसत्तमाः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनिसत्तम (प्रातिपदिक) = मुनि + सत्तम
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; संबोधनार्थक-प्रयोग (addressing sages)

• विकरालम्: terrible
• विकरालम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विकराल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; agrees with महायुद्धम्

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• भयदम्: fear-giving
• भयदम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भयद (प्रातिपदिक) = भय + द
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; agrees with महायुद्धम्

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; Genitive plural

• रोमहर्षणम्: hair-raising (causing horripilation)
• रोमहर्षणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोमहर्षण (प्रातिपदिक) = रोम + हर्षण
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; predicate/apposition to महायुद्धम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes the overwhelming majesty of divine events: when cosmic powers clash, the ordinary mind is shaken, prompting humility and surrender to Shiva (Pati), the supreme refuge beyond fear.

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

The terrifying battle highlights Saguna Shiva’s manifest power in the world of names and forms; Linga-worship trains the devotee to anchor the mind in Shiva as the stable, auspicious center amid such awe-inspiring cosmic movements.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is fearlessness through japa: steady repetition of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with calm breath and, if one follows Shaiva practice, wearing Rudraksha and applying Tripundra to cultivate inner steadiness.