Shloka 39

शारभावतारवर्णनम्

Account of Śiva’s Śārabha Manifestation and the Measureless Avatāras

Devanagari script

शंकर उवाच । स्वस्थानं गच्छत सुरास्सर्व्वे ब्रह्मादयोऽभयाः । शमयिष्यामि यद्दुःखं सर्वथा हि व्रतम्मम

Transliteration

śaṃkara uvāca | svasthānaṃ gacchata surāssarvve brahmādayo'bhayāḥ | śamayiṣyāmi yadduḥkhaṃ sarvathā hi vratammama

Translation

Śaṅkara said: “All you devas—beginning with Brahmā—go back to your own abodes, free from fear. I shall surely bring to rest whatever suffering has arisen; this indeed is my vow.”

Word by Word

• शंकरः: Śaṅkara
• शंकरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• स्वस्थानम्: your own place
• स्वस्थानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘स्वस्य स्थानम्’

• गच्छत: go
• गच्छत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ/imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• सुराः: gods
• सुराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• ब्रह्मादयः: Brahmā and the others
• ब्रह्मादयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘ब्रह्मा आदिः येषां ते’ (Brahmā and others)

• अभयाः: fearless/safe
• अभयाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• शमयिष्यामि: I will pacify/remove
• शमयिष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शम् (धातु, causative शमय-)
• Form: लृट् (भविष्यत्/future), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच् (causative)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम used adjectivally

• दुःखम्: sorrow/pain
• दुःखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• सर्वथा: in every way/entirely
• सर्वथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb of manner)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक/हेतुवाचक निपात

• व्रतम्: vow
• व्रतम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Shankara)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Devas

FAQs

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

It presents Śiva as Pati—the supreme protector and governor—whose compassionate vow is to pacify duḥkha and establish abhayā (fearlessness) for those who take refuge in Him.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Śiva as the accessible Lord who intervenes in the world to restore order and relieve suffering—an attitude devotees approach through Liṅga-worship as a concrete refuge for grace and protection.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) with japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” accompanied by calm abhayā-bhāva (fearlessness), trusting Śiva’s vow to pacify distress.