Shloka 4

शारभावतारवर्णनम्

Account of Śiva’s Śārabha Manifestation and the Measureless Avatāras

Devanagari script

सदाशिवेन देवानां हितार्थं रूपमद्भुतम् । शारभं च धृतन्दिव्यं ज्वलज्ज्वालासमप्रभम्

Transliteration

sadāśivena devānāṃ hitārthaṃ rūpamadbhutam | śārabhaṃ ca dhṛtandivyaṃ jvalajjvālāsamaprabham

Translation

For the welfare of the gods, Sadāśiva assumed a wondrous, divine form—Śārabha—radiant with a splendor like blazing flames.

Word by Word

• सदाशिवेन: by Sadāśiva
• सदाशिवेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सदाशिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः—सदा + शिव (कर्मधारय)

• देवानाम्: of the gods
• देवानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), बहुवचन

• हितार्थम्: for (their) welfare/purpose of benefit
• हितार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—हितस्य अर्थः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

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

• अद्भुतम्: wonderful
• अद्भुतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (रूपम्)

• शारभम्: (the) Śārabha (form)
• शारभम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शारभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; (रूपम्) इति विशेष्यस्य नाम

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

• धृतम्: assumed/borne
• धृतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (रूपम्)

• दिव्यम्: divine
• दिव्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (रूपम्)

• ज्वलत्: blazing
• ज्वलत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्वल् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासे पूर्वपदम् (ज्वलज्ज्वाला-)

• ज्वाला: flame
• ज्वाला: Upapada (उपपद/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्वाला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; समासे पूर्वपदम् (ज्वलज्ज्वाला-)

• समप्रभम्: having radiance equal to blazing flames
• समप्रभम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम + प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—ज्वलज्ज्वालया समा प्रभा यस्य (उपमान-तत्पुरुष/सम-पूर्वपद); विशेषणम् (रूपम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Śarabheśvara

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Describes Sadāśiva taking the Śārabha form for deva-hita—an intervention motif rather than a localized jyotirliṅga origin.

Significance: Contemplation of Śārabha/Śarabheśvara emphasizes Śiva’s protective supremacy and the removal of fear through the Lord’s fierce guardianship of cosmic order.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Sadashiva
• Devas
• Sharabha

FAQs

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

It presents Sadāśiva as the compassionate Pati (Lord) who freely manifests a saguna form to protect and uplift the devas—showing that divine grace responds to cosmic imbalance while remaining transcendent.

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

The verse highlights saguna manifestation (Śārabha) as an accessible mode of the same Supreme Shiva worshipped as the Linga—one reality, approached either as formless symbol (Linga) or as a protective divine form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva’s jvalat-jvālā (fiery) radiance while repeating the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and, if following Shaiva rites, apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder of Shiva’s purifying, protective power.