Shloka 3

शारभावतारवर्णनम्

Account of Śiva’s Śārabha Manifestation and the Measureless Avatāras

Devanagari script

अतः परं मुनिश्रेष्ठ भवत्स्नेहाद्ब्रवीमि तत् । शार्दूलाख्यावतारं च शङ्करस्य प्रभोः शृणु

Transliteration

ataḥ paraṃ muniśreṣṭha bhavatsnehādbravīmi tat | śārdūlākhyāvatāraṃ ca śaṅkarasya prabhoḥ śṛṇu

Translation

Therefore, O best of sages, out of affection for you I shall now speak of that. Listen to the Lord Śaṅkara’s incarnation known as Śārdūla.

Word by Word

• अतः: therefore/thereafter
• अतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, तस्मात्/अतः (therefore/thereafter)

• परम्: further/next
• परम्: Kāla (काल/Sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययप्रयोग (adverbial accusative: further/next)

• मुनि-श्रेष्ठ: O best of sages
• मुनि-श्रेष्ठ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (best among sages), पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• भवत्-स्नेहात्: from your affection
• भवत्-स्नेहात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान; cause 'from')
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम) + स्नेह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (your affection), पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• ब्रवीमि: I tell/speak
• ब्रवीमि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• शार्दूल-आख्य-अवतारम्: the incarnation named Śārdūla
• शार्दूल-आख्य-अवतारम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शार्दूल (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अवतार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (नामनिर्देश: 'incarnation called Śārdūla'), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• शङ्करस्य: of Śaṅkara
• शङ्करस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• प्रभोः: of the Lord
• प्रभोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Introduces a new avatāra narrative (Śārdūla) as an act of grace through teaching; no direct jyotirliṅga anchoring in this verse.

Significance: Śravaṇa of avatāra-kathā is framed as anugraha: the Lord’s compassion mediated through Purāṇic discourse.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights śravaṇa (devout listening) as a direct devotional gateway to Shiva: the narrator, moved by compassion, reveals a specific Saguna manifestation (Śārdūla avatāra) so the seeker may develop faith and receive grace.

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

By introducing an avatāra of Śaṅkara, the text frames Shiva as approachable in form (Saguna) for devotees; such narratives traditionally support Linga-worship by strengthening bhakti and understanding that the formless Pati also appears through compassionate manifestations.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The immediate practice is śravaṇa—reverently hearing Shiva’s līlās and avatāras; devotees commonly pair this with japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and focused remembrance of Śaṅkara while listening.