Shloka 24

शारभावतारवर्णनम्

Account of Śiva’s Śārabha Manifestation and the Measureless Avatāras

Devanagari script

देवदुन्दुभयो नेदुः प्रह्लादो विस्मयं गतः । लक्ष्मीश्च विस्मयं प्राप्ता रूपं दृष्ट्वाऽद्भुतं हरेः

Transliteration

devadundubhayo neduḥ prahlādo vismayaṃ gataḥ | lakṣmīśca vismayaṃ prāptā rūpaṃ dṛṣṭvā'dbhutaṃ hareḥ

Translation

The celestial kettledrums resounded. Prahlāda was struck with wonder, and Lakṣmī too was filled with amazement on beholding the marvelous form of Hari.

Word by Word

• देवदुन्दुभयः: divine drums
• देवदुन्दुभयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + दुन्दुभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः देवानां दुन्दुभयः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

• नेदुः: resounded
• नेदुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्रह्लादः: Prahlāda
• प्रह्लादः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रह्लाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विस्मयम्: astonishment
• विस्मयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विस्मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• गतः: went into; became
• गतः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगः

• लक्ष्मीः: Lakṣmī
• लक्ष्मीः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• विस्मयम्: astonishment
• विस्मयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विस्मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्राप्ता: attained; came to
• प्राप्ता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्राप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past active participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगः

• रूपम्: form
• रूपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-क्रियाविशेषण (Gerund/Absolutive)

• अद्भुतम्: wonderful
• अद्भुतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of रूपम्)

• हरेः: of Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Lakṣmī

Role: nurturing

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Deva-dundubhi-nāda marking a divine epiphany (avatāra-darśana)

Characters & Entities

• Prahlada
• Lakshmi
• Hari (Vishnu)

FAQs

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

It highlights the bhakti-response of sacred astonishment (vismaya) when the Divine reveals an extraordinary, perceivable form—showing that grace can overwhelm even exalted devotees and divine beings, turning the mind toward reverence and surrender.

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

Though the verse names Hari’s wondrous form, the Shatarudra context emphasizes that the Supreme can be approached through manifest (saguṇa) revelation as well as the transcendent; similarly, the Liṅga is a Shaiva focus for worship where the formless is honored through a sacred, worship-worthy form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate devotional recollection (smaraṇa) and reverent awe during pūjā—especially while chanting the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”; let the mind rest in wonder rather than analysis, as a meditative doorway into grace.