Shloka 8

शारभावतारवर्णनम्

Account of Śiva’s Śārabha Manifestation and the Measureless Avatāras

Devanagari script

तथापि च यथाबुद्ध्या कथयामि कथाश्रुतम् । चरित्रं शारभं दिव्यं परमैश्वर्य्यसूचकम्

Transliteration

tathāpi ca yathābuddhyā kathayāmi kathāśrutam | caritraṃ śārabhaṃ divyaṃ paramaiśvaryyasūcakam

Translation

即便如此，依我所能领会之度，我将叙述我在神圣传承中所闻——圣妙的舍罗婆（Śārabha）事迹，彰显大自在天（湿婆，Śiva）至上的主宰威德。

Word by Word

• तथा: thus, in that way
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• अपि: even, though
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपेक्षार्थक अव्यय (particle: also/even/though)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• यथा-बुद्ध्या: according to (my) understanding
• यथा-बुद्ध्या: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव समासः—यथाबुद्धि (according to one’s understanding)

• कथयामि: I narrate, I tell
• कथयामि: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथय् (धातु, णिजन्त from कथ्)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कथा-श्रुतम्: heard as a tale/tradition
• कथा-श्रुतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कथा (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रुत (कृदन्त, √श्रु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—कथायाः श्रुतम् (heard as a story); श्रुत = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

• चरित्रम्: deed, account, narrative
• चरित्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• शारभम्: of Śārabha
• शारभम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शारभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying चरित्रम्)

• दिव्यम्: divine
• दिव्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• परम-ऐश्वर्य-सूचकम्: indicating supreme sovereignty
• परम-ऐश्वर्य-सूचकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + ऐश्वर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सूचक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—परमस्य ऐश्वर्यस्य सूचकं (indicator of supreme lordship)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Śarabheśvara

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Śārabha-caritra is introduced as a proof-text of parama-aiśvarya (supreme lordship). In many Śaiva tellings, Śarabha manifests to subdue an uncontrolled Narasiṃha, restoring cosmic balance and demonstrating Śiva’s supremacy over even fierce divine forms.

Significance: Kathā-śravaṇa of Śarabheśvara is framed as aiśvarya-jñāna and bhaya-śānti: it steadies the devotee’s mind by affirming Śiva as the ultimate refuge beyond all competing powers.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sharabha

FAQs

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

It frames the Śārabha narrative as a revelation of Śiva’s paramaiśvarya—His unsurpassed sovereignty—encouraging śravaṇa (devotional listening) as a means to deepen bhakti and right understanding of the Lord.

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

By introducing a divine caritra (sacred episode) of Śiva’s form, it supports Saguna-upāsanā—worship through manifest forms and stories—while implicitly pointing to the same supreme Lord who is also realized through the Liṅga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse primarily suggests kathā-śravaṇa and kīrtana (listening and recitation of Śiva’s deeds) as a devotional practice; it can be paired with japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to internalize the teaching of Śiva’s supreme lordship.