Shloka 46

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

Devanagari script

यन्नृसिंह महेशानं पुनर्भूतं तु मन्यसे । तर्ह्यज्ञानी महागर्वी विकारी सर्वथा भवान्

Transliteration

yannṛsiṃha maheśānaṃ punarbhūtaṃ tu manyase | tarhyajñānī mahāgarvī vikārī sarvathā bhavān

Translation

यद्येवं नृसिंह! महेशानं पुनर्भूतं मन्यसे, तर्हि त्वं सर्वथा अज्ञानी महागर्वी च विकारी च भवसि।

Word by Word

• यत्: that (which)
• यत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचकं सर्वनाम

• नृसिंह: O Narasiṃha
• नृसिंह: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृसिंह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• महेशानम्: Mahēśāna (Śiva)
• महेशानम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• पुनर्भूतम्: become again; reborn
• पुनर्भूतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुनर्भूत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: ‘पुनः’ (अव्यय) + ‘भूत’ (भू धातु, भूतकृदन्त) कर्मधारयसमास; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘become again’

• तु: but; however
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Contrast)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थे

• मन्यसे: you think; you consider
• मन्यसे: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• तर्हि: then; therefore
• तर्हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Logical connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तर्हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तदानीं/तस्मात् (then/therefore)

• अज्ञानी: ignorant
• अज्ञानी: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अज्ञानी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• महागर्वी: very proud
• महागर्वी: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महागर्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: ‘महā’ + ‘गर्विन्’ (possessing pride) तत्पुरुष; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विकारी: changeable; mutable
• विकारी: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विकारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘subject to change/alteration’

• सर्वथा: in every way; entirely
• सर्वथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• भवान्: you
• भवान्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; आदरार्थे ‘you’

Speaker

Lord Shiva (as Maheśāna or a Shaiva authority figure in the narrative, correcting Narasiṃha’s misconception)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: assertion of Śiva’s non-transmigratory, unchanging sovereignty (beyond rebirth/vikāra)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Narasimha

FAQs

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

It asserts Shiva’s supreme, changeless status (Pati-tattva): His manifestations are divine self-disclosures, not rebirths caused by karma. Mistaking them as ordinary rebirth is treated as ignorance and ego.

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

Linga/Saguna worship honors Shiva’s gracious self-manifestation for devotees, while remembering His transcendence. The verse guards devotees from reducing Shiva’s forms to a limited, perishable embodiment.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate jñāna with bhakti: steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to dissolve ego and wrong notions, supported by Shaiva disciplines like bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa as aids to remembrance.