उररीकृतकाञ्चिपुरीमुपनिषदरविन्दकुहरमधुधाराम् |
उन्नम्रस्तनकलशीमुत्स्वलहरीमुपास्महे शम्भोः ||
The verse ‘Prabho Shambho’ was composed by Acārya Amṛtavāgbhava, the great philosopher of Kashmir Shaivism and an ardent upāsaka of Srīvidyā. He composed this verse with a heart filled with devotion on one evening during the month of Vaiśākha, and then began to further contemplate on this composition, wondering about it its grammar and meaning. At that time, Lord Svacchanda Bhairava appeared in the from of a sage and clarified all his doubts. Thereafter, Acārya gave this verse to several people who were afflicted by various physical, mental and spiritual troubles and all of them miraculously were freed of their afflictions by the grace of Paramaśiva experienced through the recital of this verse.
Traditionally, one is advised to start the reciting of this verse from a Monday or an auspicious day such as Mahāśivarātri, on which the aspirant should visit a temple of Lord Mahādeva and accept the verse as though initiated directly by the Lord. He should then recite the verse with full contemplation on its meaning, thrice. Thereafter, the verse should be recited first thing upon waking up from sleep, and the last thing before sleeping in the night, thrice. For accomplishing other purposes, one should recite it more number of times.
Acārya himself describes the background of this verse thus:
“The desire of Lord Paramaśiva manifested as his Grace has imparted the power of Siddha Mahāmantra to the verse ‘Prabho Shambho’ composed by me, by which one can attain the desired fruits. For the benefit of the devotees, I now offer my salutations to His lotus feet and narrate the astonishing anecdote associated with this verse.
One evening, having completed my sandhyā, I sat on my āsana within the place of worship, enveloped in darkness. I was wondering about a possible mistake in the verse ‘Prabho Shambho’ composed by me the earlier the same morning. Suddenly, a divine form appeared before me.
The form of the Siddha that appeared before me wore rags hanging till his knees, had pointed long ears covered in hair and was resplendent like the full moon. His entire body was covered by curly hair and his eye shone with the brilliance of lightening. With his forefinger held high, he spoke to me in a thundering voice:
O wise one, this verse is not impure, do not make any changes to it. The way the samāsa is formed, there is nothing wrong with the use of the word ‘baddhādarakaraṃ’.
Having clarified thus, the Siddha vanished immediately. This incident occurred in the month of Vaiśākha in 1990, at Nalagadh in Himachal Pradesh within Dharmasabha Bhavan”.
The verse is as below:
प्रभो शम्भो दीनं विहितशरणं त्वच्चरणयोः
भवारण्यादस्माद्विषमविषयाशीविषवृतात् |
समुद्धृत्य श्रद्धाविधुरमपि बद्धादरकरं
दयादृष्ट्या पश्यन्निजतनयमात्मीकुरु शिव ||
prabho śambho dīnaṃ vihitaśaraṇaṃ tvaccaraṇayoḥ
bhavāraṇyādasmādviṣamaviṣayāśīviṣavṛtāt |
samuddhṛtya śraddhāvidhuramapi baddhādarakaraṃ
dayādṛṣṭyā paśyannijatanayamātmīkuru śiva ||
‘O Lord Shiva, this forest named samsāra is filled with venomous serpents that are the sensory objects. To escape from them, I take refuge most humbly in your lotus feet.
O all powerful Shambhu, please take me out of this forest even if I lack faith and devotion, for I am after all your son and I have sought refuge in you with folded hands.
Please cast your merciful glance of grace on me and take me into your fold, accepting me as your very own’.