Shloka 46

वीरभद्रक्रोधशमनं देवस्तुतिश्च

Pacification of Vīrabhadra and the Gods’ Hymn

Devanagari script

मखपाल मखाधीश मखविध्वंसकारक । कृपां कुरु मशानापराधं नः क्षमस्व वै

Transliteration

makhapāla makhādhīśa makhavidhvaṃsakāraka | kṛpāṃ kuru maśānāparādhaṃ naḥ kṣamasva vai

Translation

“O Protector of the sacrifice, O Lord of sacrifices, O Destroyer of the ego-bound sacrifice—show compassion. Truly forgive us for our offence connected with the cremation-ground and its rites.”

Word by Word

• मखपाल: O guardian of the sacrifice
• मखपाल: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मख + पाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—मखस्य पालः (protector of sacrifice)

• मखाधीश: O lord of the sacrifice
• मखाधीश: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मख + अधीश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—मखस्य अधीशः (lord of sacrifice)

• मखविध्वंसकारक: O destroyer of the sacrifice
• मखविध्वंसकारक: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मख + विध्वंस + कारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—मखस्य विध्वंसं करोति इति (destroyer of sacrifice)

• कृपाम्: mercy
• कृपाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृपा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कुरु: do / show
• कुरु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मशान: O Maśāna (dweller of cremation-ground)
• मशान: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन (as written in IAST: maśāna-; likely intended ‘maheśāna’ in parallel)

• अपराधम्: offence
• अपराधम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपराध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• नः: our / of us
• नः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive) बहुवचन—enclitic; ‘of us/our’

• क्षमस्व: forgive
• क्षमस्व: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षम् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• वै: indeed
• वै: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: निपात (particle) — emphasis/indeed

Speaker

Sages/devotees addressing Lord Shiva (within Suta Goswami’s Vayu Samhita narration)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: makhapāla makhādhīśa makhavidhvaṃsakāraka | kṛpāṃ kuru maśānāparādhaṃ naḥ kṣamasva vai

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It expresses śaraṇāgati (surrender): even when one errs in sacred observance, liberation depends on Shiva’s anugraha (grace), not on ritual pride. Shiva is praised as the true Lord of yajña who dissolves ego-bound religiosity.

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

Addressing Shiva with personal epithets and asking forgiveness is classic Saguna-bhakti. In Linga worship too, the devotee approaches Shiva as the compassionate Lord who accepts repentance and purifies offences through devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Atonement through humble confession and mantra-japa—especially the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—along with reverent conduct in Shiva’s sacred spaces (including maśāna symbolism: impermanence and dispassion) is implied.