Shloka 28

शारभावतारवर्णनम्

Account of Śiva’s Śārabha Manifestation and the Measureless Avatāras

Devanagari script

प्रह्रादं प्रेषयामासुस्तच्छान्त्यै निकटं हरेः । सर्वान्मिलित्वा प्रह्लादः प्रार्थितो गतवांस्तदा

Transliteration

prahrādaṃ preṣayāmāsustacchāntyai nikaṭaṃ hareḥ | sarvānmilitvā prahlādaḥ prārthito gatavāṃstadā

Translation

To bring about pacification, they sent Prahlāda to the presence of Hari (Viṣṇu). Then Prahlāda, after assembling everyone and being entreated by them, went there at once.

Word by Word

• प्रह्रादम्: Prahrāda
• प्रह्रादम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रह्राद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• प्रेषयामासुः: they sent
• प्रेषयामासुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-इष्/इष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect, परोक्षभूत), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; causative sense ‘to send’ (प्रेषयति)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थे/सम्बन्धे (contextual ‘that’), एकवचन; here as demonstrative with ‘शान्त्यै’ in sandhi

• शान्त्यै: for pacification
• शान्त्यै: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; purpose/dative

• निकटम्: near
• निकटम्: Desha-adhikarana (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निकट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd) एकवचन; used adverbially (स्थानवाचक)

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

• सर्वान्: all (of them)
• सर्वान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• मिलित्वा: having gathered
• मिलित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मिल् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund, त्वान्त); ‘having assembled/met’

• प्रह्लादः: Prahlāda
• प्रह्लादः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रह्लाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• प्रार्थितः: was requested
• प्रार्थितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-अर्थ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘having been requested’

• गतवान्: went
• गतवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्तवतु-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (perfect participle, क्तवतु); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘having gone’

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; time-adverb (कालवाचक)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Transition from raudra to śānta through bhakta-mediated pacification

Characters & Entities

• Prahlada
• Hari (Vishnu)

FAQs

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

It highlights that collective distress is calmed through a realized devotee’s intercession—Prahlāda becomes the instrument of śānti (pacification), showing that devotion and humility restore dharma and inner balance.

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

Although Hari (Viṣṇu) is named, the Śiva Purāṇa frequently presents harmony among divine forms; seeking śānti through a personal form (saguṇa) mirrors how devotees approach Śiva as Liṅga or as a compassionate Lord to remove agitation and obstacles.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is performing śānti-oriented japa and prayer—especially Panchākṣarī japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with calm focus—along with simple offerings and devotion led by a sincere bhakta.