Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 20

शिवतत्त्वे परापरभावविचारः

Inquiry into Śiva’s Principle and the Parā–Aparā Paradox

Devanagari script

विष्णोरपि नृसिंहस्य रभसा शरभाकृतिः । बिभेद पद्भ्यामाक्रम्य हृदयं नखरैः खरैः

Transliteration

viṣṇorapi nṛsiṃhasya rabhasā śarabhākṛtiḥ | bibheda padbhyāmākramya hṛdayaṃ nakharaiḥ kharaiḥ

Translation

Même Viṣṇu, dans sa forme furieuse de Narasiṃha, fut, dans l’élan de cette rencontre, maîtrisé par la manifestation à l’aspect de Śarabha ; le foulant de ses pieds, elle lui déchira le cœur de ses griffes acérées.

Word by Word

• viṣṇoḥ: of Viṣṇu
• viṣṇoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th), Ekavacana

• api: even/also
• api: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle

• nṛsiṃhasya: of Narasiṃha
• nṛsiṃhasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛ-siṃha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th), Ekavacana; in apposition/genitive with viṣṇoḥ

• rabhasā: with force/impetuously
• rabhasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rabhasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Ekavacana; instrumental of manner

• śarabha-ākṛtiḥ: the Śarabha-form (one having the form of Śarabha)
• śarabha-ākṛtiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarabha-ākṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; subject of bibheda

• bibheda: split/pierced
• bibheda: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhid (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (perfect), Parasmaipada, Prathama puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana

• padbhyām: with (his) two feet
• padbhyām: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (or puṃliṅga usage), Tṛtīyā (3rd), Dvivacana (dual)

• ākramya: having trampled/stepped upon
• ākramya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√kram (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), ‘having stepped upon’

• hṛdayam: heart
• hṛdayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛdaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana

• nakharaiḥ: with claws
• nakharaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nakhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana

• kharaiḥ: sharp/harsh
• kharaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: khara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana; qualifying nakharaiḥ

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Śarabheśvara

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Narasimha
• Sharabha

FAQs

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

It asserts the Shaiva Siddhanta principle that Pati (Śiva), the supreme Lord, can assume any saguna form to restrain uncontrolled fury and re-establish dharma; even exalted divine manifestations remain within His governance.

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

The verse highlights Śiva’s saguna sovereignty—He manifests as needed to protect cosmic order—while Linga-worship points to that same Lord as the transcendent source beyond all forms, harmonizing nirguṇa reality with saguṇa intervention.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as the inner governor of all powers using the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), cultivating self-restraint and surrender; this episode is a reminder to offer one’s fierce impulses into Śiva through japa and devotion.