Shloka 32

शारभावतारवर्णनम्

Account of Śiva’s Śārabha Manifestation and the Measureless Avatāras

Devanagari script

देवा ऊचुः । देवदेव महादेव शरणागतवत्सल । पाहि नः शरणापन्ना न्सर्वान्देवाञ्जगन्ति च

Transliteration

devā ūcuḥ | devadeva mahādeva śaraṇāgatavatsala | pāhi naḥ śaraṇāpannā nsarvāndevāñjaganti ca

Translation

Les Devas dirent : « Ô Dieu des dieux, ô Mahādeva, plein de tendresse et de compassion pour ceux qui se réfugient en Toi, protège-nous. Nous, et certes tous les dieux ainsi que les mondes, sommes venus à Toi pour trouver asile. »

Word by Word

• devāḥ: the gods
• devāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ūcuḥ: said
• ūcuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद

• deva-deva: O God of gods
• deva-deva: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• mahā-deva: O Mahādeva
• mahā-deva: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• śaraṇa-āgata-vatsala: O lover of those who have come for refuge
• śaraṇa-āgata-vatsala: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaraṇa + āgata + vatsala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifier)

• pāhi: protect
• pāhi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pā (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• naḥ: us
• naḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-प्रयोग (Genitive/Dative enclitic), बहुवचनार्थ (of us/to us)

• śaraṇa-āpannān: those who have sought refuge
• śaraṇa-āpannān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaraṇa + āpanna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण (qualifier)

• sarvān: all
• sarvān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण

• devān: the gods
• devān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• jaganti: the worlds
• jaganti: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

The Devas

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Establishes the core pilgrimage-bhāva: śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) in Mahādeva as protector of devas and worlds; applicable to any Śiva-kṣetra.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: देवदेव महादेव शरणागतवत्सल । पाहि नः शरणापन्नान्सर्वान्देवाञ्जगन्ति च

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas

FAQs

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

It teaches śaraṇāgati (total refuge in Śiva) as a direct Shaiva path: when beings recognize their limitation (paśu) and seek the Lord (Pati), Śiva responds as śaraṇāgatavatsala—gracious protector and liberator.

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

The verse addresses Śiva as Devadeva and Mahādeva in a personal, approachable form (Saguna), the very Lord worshipped in the Liṅga; it frames Liṅga-worship as taking refuge in Śiva’s ever-present protective grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple refuge-prayer with japa is implied—repeat the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with the inner attitude of surrender, and offer a humble plea for protection as the Devas do.