Shloka 193

Śatarudrīya-prabhāva and Rudra’s Supremacy (शतरुद्रीयप्रभावः)

Devanagari script

अभय: सर्वभूतानां भक्तानां वृष१भध्वज: । उन्होंने व्याप्रचर्मको ही वस्त्रके रूपमें धारण कर रखा था। सिंहका चर्म उनके लिये उत्तरीय वस्त्र (चादर)का काम देता था। उनके गलेमें सर्पमय यज्ञोपवीत शोभा दे रहा था। वे लाल रंगके बाजूबंदसे विभूषित थे। उनकी मूँछ काली थी

Transliteration

abhayaḥ sarvabhūtānāṁ bhaktānāṁ vṛṣabhadhvajaḥ | vyāghracarmaiva vastra-rūpeṇa dhṛtavān, siṁhacarma cottarīya-vastra-kāryaṁ karoti sma | gale sarpamayaṁ yajñopavītaṁ śobhate sma | raktavarṇaiḥ bāhubandhaiḥ vibhūṣitaḥ | asya śmaśru kṛṣṇaṁ, mastake jaṭājūṭaḥ śobhate sma | bhīmasvarūpo rudro devadrohiṇāṁ manasi bhayaṁ janayati sma | vṛṣabha-cihna-dhārī sa bhagavān śivaḥ bhaktānāṁ ca sarvabhūtānāṁ ca bhaya-nivāraṇaḥ |

Translation

Nārada berkata: Dia yang menjadi ketakutan lenyap bagi segala makhluk, pelindung para bhakta, dan yang panjinya bertanda lembu—Dialah Dewa Śiva. Baginda mengenakan kulit harimau sebagai pakaian, sementara kulit singa menjadi selendang atas. Seekor ular menjadi yajñopavīta (tali suci) yang menghiasi lehernya. Gelang lengan merah memperindah dirinya; misainya hitam; dan segumpal rambut gimbal (jaṭā) memahkotai kepalanya. Dahsyat rupanya, Rudra menimbulkan gentar dalam hati mereka yang memusuhi para dewa; namun bagi para bhakta dan semua makhluk, Dialah penghapus rasa takut. Petikan ini menampilkan pertentangan moral: kuasa ilahi yang sama yang menghukum kedurhakaan menjadi perlindungan dan jaminan bagi yang setia dan tidak bersalah.

Word by Word

• अभयः: fearlessness; remover of fear
• अभयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्वभूतानाम्: of all beings
• सर्वभूतानाम्: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वभूत
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• भक्तानाम्: of devotees
• भक्तानाम्: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• वृषभध्वजः: he whose banner bears a bull (Śiva)
• वृषभध्वजः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषभध्वज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• Śiva
• Rudra
• Vṛṣabha (bull emblem)
• dhvaja (banner)
• vyāghracarma (tiger-skin)
• siṁhacarma (lion-skin)
• sarpa (serpent sacred thread)
• yajñopavīta (sacred thread)
• bāhubandha (armlets)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The same divine force that inspires dread in the impious becomes refuge for devotees: Śiva is portrayed as both the chastiser of god-haters and the remover of fear for all beings, highlighting a dharmic ethic of protection for the faithful and restraint against wrongdoing.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada is describing Lord Śiva’s awe-inspiring appearance—his skins, serpent sacred thread, armlets, and matted locks—emphasizing his terrifying aspect toward deviant enemies of the gods while affirming his role as a compassionate protector who grants fearlessness to devotees and creatures.