Shloka 20

वीरभद्र-भैरव-आह्वानम् — Invocation of Vīrabhadra/Bhairava for Cosmic Reabsorption

Devanagari script

वामनेन बलिर्बद्धस्त्वया विक्रमता पुनः । त्वमेव सर्व्वभूतानां प्रभवः प्रभुरव्ययः

Transliteration

vāmanena balirbaddhastvayā vikramatā punaḥ | tvameva sarvvabhūtānāṃ prabhavaḥ prabhuravyayaḥ

Translation

As Vāmana You bound Bali, and again as the mighty Strider You measured the worlds. Yet in truth, You alone are the origin of all beings—the Lord, the sovereign, the imperishable.

Word by Word

• वामनेन: by Vāmana
• वामनेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वामन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• बलिः: Bali
• बलिः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• बद्धः: was bound
• बद्धः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, भूतकर्मणि), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘बलिः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/स्त्री, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• विक्रमता: by (you) striding
• विक्रमता: Karana (करण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (शतृ-प्रत्यय, वर्तमानकालिक), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक—‘(त्वया) विक्रमता’

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्त्यर्थक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: again)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/स्त्री, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक-निपात

• सर्वभूतानाम्: of all beings
• सर्वभूतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (सर्वाणि भूतानि)

• प्रभवः: origin / source
• प्रभवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रभुः: lord
• प्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अव्ययः: imperishable
• अव्ययः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (indeclinable/imperishable)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva Purana discourse to the sages, praising the Supreme Lord as the source behind all incarnations)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Vamana
• Bali
• Trivikrama
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that famous divine acts (like Vāmana binding Bali and Trivikrama measuring the worlds) ultimately point to the one imperishable Lord who is the source (prabhava) and ruler (prabhu) of all beings—guiding the devotee from marvel at forms to realization of the Supreme.

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

The verse affirms many sacred forms and deeds, yet declares a single supreme reality behind them; in Shaiva worship, the Śiva-liṅga functions as the stable, all-pervading symbol of that one Lord—accessible as Saguna for devotion while indicating the imperishable (avyaya) truth.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate the Lord as both the doer of cosmic deeds and the imperishable source; pair this with japa of the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namah Shivaya,” offering bilva leaves to the liṅga while meditating on “prabhavaḥ prabhur avyayaḥ.”