Shloka 61

Varaha-Pradurbhava Context: Prahlada’s Bhakti, Narasimha’s Ugra-Form, and Shiva’s Sharabha Intervention

Devanagari script

ययौ प्रान्ते नृसिंहस्य गर्वितस्य मृगाशिनः अपहृत्य तदा प्राणान् शरभः सुरपूजितः

Transliteration

yayau prānte nṛsiṃhasya garvitasya mṛgāśinaḥ apahṛtya tadā prāṇān śarabhaḥ surapūjitaḥ

Translation

അപ്പോൾ ദേവന്മാർ പൂജിച്ച ശാരഭൻ ഗർവിതനായ മാംസഭോജി നൃസിംഹന്റെ സമീപത്തേക്ക് ചെന്നു; അന്നേരം തന്നെ അവന്റെ പ്രാണശ്വാസം അപഹരിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• ययौ: went

• प्रान्ते: to the side/near

• नृसिंहस्य: of Narasiṃha

• गर्वितस्य: of the arrogant/proud

• मृगाशिनः: flesh-eater/devourer of beasts

• अपहृत्य: having seized/taken away

• तदा: then/at that time

• प्राणान्: life-breaths/vital airs

• शरभः: Śarabha

• सुरपूजितः: worshipped/honoured by the gods

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Narasimha
• Sharabha
• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It asserts Śiva’s role as Pati (the sovereign Lord) who restores dharma by restraining destructive excess; Linga worship aligns the pashu (soul) with that stabilizing, grace-giving sovereignty.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Through Śarabha, Śiva-tattva appears as the higher regulating power that can withdraw prāṇa and dissolve arrogance—showing transcendence over mere ferocity and the capacity to confer order and liberation.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse hints at prāṇa-niyama under Pāśupata discipline—mastery over the vital airs—implying that surrender to Śiva in worship and yoga cuts the pasha of pride and violence.