Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

अतीव घोरं भगवन्नरसिंहवपुस्तव । उपसंहर विश्वात्मंस्त्वमेव मम सन्निधौ

Transliteration

atīva ghoraṃ bhagavannarasiṃhavapustava | upasaṃhara viśvātmaṃstvameva mama sannidhau

Translation

ഹേ ഭഗവൻ, നിന്റെ നരസിംഹവപു അത്യന്തം ഘോരമാണ്; ഹേ വിശ്വാത്മാ, അതിനെ ഉപസംഹരിക്കണമേ—എന്റെ സന്നിധിയിൽ നീയേ സന്നിഹിതനാണ്।

Word by Word

• अतीव: exceedingly
• अतीव: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतीव (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण/अतिशय-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: exceedingly)

• घोरम्: terrible
• घोरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विशेषण (qualifying ‘वपुः’)

• भगवन्: O Lord
• भगवन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• नर-सिंह-वपुः: the body/form of Narasiṃha
• नर-सिंह-वपुः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक) + सिंह (प्रातिपदिक) + वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नरसिंहस्य वपुः)

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन

• उपसंहर: withdraw/bring to an end
• उपसंहर: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + सम् + हृ (धातु; √हृ)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• विश्व-आत्मन्: O World-Self
• विश्व-आत्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; कर्मधारय (विश्वः आत्मा यस्य/विश्वात्मा = world-soul)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन

• एव: indeed/alone
• एव: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (only/indeed)

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन

• सन्निधौ: in (my) presence/nearby
• सन्निधौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्निधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

Speaker

A devotee/supplicant addressing the Lord (within Shatarudrasaṃhitā narration, likely recounted by Suta Goswami)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it is a supplication to withdraw an excessively ghora manifestation, highlighting the need for the deity’s self-restraint and the devotee’s capacity to behold the form.

Significance: Models prayer for śānti after ugra-darśana; encourages seeking the Lord’s prasāda (calm grace) when confronted by overwhelming divine power.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Narasimha

FAQs

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

The verse models śaraṇāgati (surrender): the devotee recognizes the Lord’s fierce, protective power and prays that it be withdrawn once the purpose is fulfilled, affirming that the same Supreme (Pati) who terrifies evil is the intimate refuge of the soul.

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

It reflects Saguna-upāsanā: the devotee relates to the Lord through a manifest form (here, Narasiṃha-like ferocity), yet acknowledges Him as Viśvātman, the universal Self—harmonizing form-worship with the Shaiva understanding that all forms resolve into Shiva’s supreme presence, often symbolized by the Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to calm inner fear by japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and dhyāna on Shiva’s benevolent aspect after invoking protection; optionally, apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and hold Rudrākṣa as reminders of taking refuge in Shiva.