Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

एकं रक्षो विदार्यैव तच्छक्तिकलया युतः । अहंकारावलेपेन गर्जसि त्वमतन्द्रितः

Transliteration

ekaṃ rakṣo vidāryaiva tacchaktikalayā yutaḥ | ahaṃkārāvalepena garjasi tvamatandritaḥ

Translation

एकं रक्षो विदार्यैव तच्छक्तिकलया युतः; अहंकारावलेपेन गर्जसि त्वम् अतन्द्रितः।

Word by Word

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying रक्षः)

• रक्षः: a demon (rakṣas)
• रक्षः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• विदार्य: having torn apart
• विदार्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + दृ (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप् (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having torn asunder’

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphasis)

• तत्: of that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद ‘of that’

• शक्ति-कलया: with a portion of (his) power
• शक्ति-कलया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + कला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः—शक्तेः कला (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• युतः: endowed (with)
• युतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यु (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past Passive Participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘endowed/connected’

• अहंकार-अवलेपेन: with the arrogance of ego
• अहंकार-अवलेपेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहंकार (प्रातिपदिक) + अवलेप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः—अहंकारस्य अवलेपः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• गर्जसि: you roar
• गर्जसि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अतन्द्रितः: unwearied, vigilant
• अतन्द्रितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतन्द्रित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying त्वम्)

Speaker

Inferred narrator voice within Suta Goswami’s discourse (Śiva Purāṇa narration) addressing the moral of a boastful warrior/demon-slayer

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti
• Rakshasa

FAQs

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

It warns that worldly victory can inflate ahaṅkāra; in Shaiva thought, power is ultimately Shiva-Shakti’s gift, and pride veils the soul from Shiva’s grace (anugraha), delaying liberation.

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

Linga-worship trains the devotee in humility—seeing all strength as arising from Shiva. The verse critiques self-glorification and redirects devotion toward Saguna Shiva as the true source of śakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a deliberate bhāva of surrender, and offer bhasma/tripundra as a reminder that ego and achievements return to ash.