Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi Meets Lord Śiva: Devotee as Living Tīrtha and the Lord’s Māyā
सूत उवाच इत्युक्त्वा तमुपेयाय भगवान् स सतां गति: । ईशान: सर्वविद्यानामीश्वर: सर्वदेहिनाम् ॥ ८ ॥
sūta uvāca ity uktvā tam upeyāya bhagavān sa satāṁ gatiḥ īśānaḥ sarva-vidyānām īśvaraḥ sarva-dehinām
قال سوتا: بعد أن قال ذلك، تقدّم الربّ شانكارا—ملجأ الأرواح الطاهرة، وسيّد جميع العلوم الروحية، والمتحكّم في كل الكائنات المتجسّدة—نحو ذلك الحكيم.
In this verse, 'satāṁ gatiḥ' describes Bhagavān as the ultimate destination and shelter of the saintly—those devoted to truth and bhakti.
The speaker is Sūta Gosvāmī, narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya.
It teaches taking refuge in Bhagavān as the highest guide—seeking divine shelter, humility, and right knowledge rather than depending solely on limited human control.