Shloka 29

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

Devanagari script

मत्प्रसादेन सकलमभयं हि प्रवर्त्तते । अहं हि सर्वशक्तीनां प्रवर्तकनिवर्तकः

Transliteration

matprasādena sakalamabhayaṃ hi pravarttate | ahaṃ hi sarvaśaktīnāṃ pravartakanivartakaḥ

Translation

By My grace alone, all things proceed in fearlessness. For I indeed am the One who sets every power in motion—and I am also the One who withdraws and restrains them.

Word by Word

• मत्-प्रसादेन: by my grace
• मत्-प्रसादेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + प्रसाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मत्-प्रसादः = मम प्रसादः)

• सकलम्: all, entire
• सकलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• अभयम्: fearless, safe
• अभयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (सकलम् इति)

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; हेतौ/निश्चये

• प्रवर्तते: proceeds, comes into operation
• प्रवर्तते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; भ्वादिगण; अर्थः—प्रवृत्तिं गच्छति

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (कर्ता/Nominative), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; निश्चये

• सर्व-शक्तीनाम्: of all powers
• सर्व-शक्तीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (सर्वाः शक्तयः)

• प्रवर्तक-निवर्तकः: the initiator and withdrawer (controller)
• प्रवर्तक-निवर्तकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्र√वृत् (धातु) + ण्वुल् (कृदन्त) → प्रवर्तक (प्रातिपदिक) + नि√वृत् (धातु) + ण्वुल् (कृदन्त) → निवर्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/Nominative), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (प्रवर्तकश्च निवर्तकश्च)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that true abhaya (fearlessness) arises from Shiva’s anugraha (grace): as Pati, He alone governs the cosmos and the soul’s safety, turning bondage toward liberation by initiating and restraining all forces.

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

The Linga signifies Shiva as the supreme ground beyond fear; worship of Saguna Shiva (as the gracious Lord) is a direct approach to His protective anugraha—recognizing Him as the ruler of all shaktis that operate in creation and dissolution.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa of the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with an attitude of surrender, and perform Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) application while contemplating Shiva as the source of abhaya who both empowers and withdraws all inner and outer energies.