Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 30
हिरण्यकशिपोः क्रोधः तथा देवप्रजाकदनम् — Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Wrath and the Affliction of Devas and Beings
प्रह्लाद उवाच । एष प्रविष्टो भगवाननंतो नृसिंहमात्रो नगरं त्वदंतः । निवृत्य युद्धाच्छ रणं प्रयाहि पश्यामि सिंहस्य करालमूर्त्तिम्
prahlāda uvāca | eṣa praviṣṭo bhagavānanaṃto nṛsiṃhamātro nagaraṃ tvadaṃtaḥ | nivṛtya yuddhāccha raṇaṃ prayāhi paśyāmi siṃhasya karālamūrttim
Prahlāda thưa: “Hãy nhìn—Bhagavān Ananta đã vào thành của ngươi trong hình tướng Narasiṃha. Hãy quay lui khỏi cuộc chiến này và rút khỏi chiến địa. Ta thấy hình sư tử đáng sợ, uy nghi khiến người rúng động.”
Prahlāda
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Bhairava
Type: stotra
Role: liberating
FAQs
The verse highlights how the Divine, when invoked by pure devotion, manifests as a protective Saguna form to halt adharma; Prahlāda’s counsel emphasizes surrender, humility, and retreat from unrighteous conflict as steps toward inner purification.
Though Narasiṃha is a distinct Saguna manifestation, the Shiva Purana’s devotional framework treats such awe-inspiring forms as reminders that the One Supreme Lord can assume forms to protect devotees—encouraging steadiness in worship (including Liṅga-upāsanā) and reliance on divine grace.
The takeaway is refuge (śaraṇāgati): repeat a Shiva-mantra such as the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with calm breath, and cultivate non-violence and restraint—symbolically “withdrawing from battle” within the mind.