Shloka 181

देवैर्विष्णोः शरणागमनम्—शिवलिङ्गस्थापनं, शिवसहस्रनामस्तवः, सुदर्शनचक्रप्रदानं च

Devanagari script

नान्यमिच्छामि भक्तानाम् आर्तयो नास्ति यत्प्रभो तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य दयावान् सुतरां भवः

Transliteration

nānyamicchāmi bhaktānām ārtayo nāsti yatprabho tacchrutvā vacanaṃ tasya dayāvān sutarāṃ bhavaḥ

Translation

„Nichts anderes begehre ich, o Herr, als dass die Leiden Deiner Bhaktas nicht fortbestehen.“ Als Bhava (Śiva) diese Worte hörte, wurde er umso mitfühlender.

Word by Word

• na: not

• anyam: anything else

• icchāmi: I desire

• bhaktānām: of devotees

• ārtayaḥ: sufferings, distresses

• na asti: do not exist / may not remain

• yat: that which

• prabho: O Lord

• tat: that

• śrutvā: having heard

• vacanam: speech, statement

• tasya: of him

• dayāvān: compassionate, full of mercy

• sutarām: exceedingly, all the more

• bhavaḥ: Bhava, Lord Śiva

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating an internal exchange culminating in Shiva’s response)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It frames Linga-bhakti as grace-centered: the goal is not mere boons, but the removal of devotees’ distress through Shiva’s anugraha, which is the heart of Linga worship.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Shiva is shown as Bhava—the compassionate Pati—who responds to sincere devotion by intensifying His mercy, loosening pasha (bondage) and easing the pashu’s suffering.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The key practice is bhakti as an inner limb of Pashupata orientation: surrender and prayer for the welfare of devotees, which draws Shiva’s anugraha more powerfully than desire for personal gain.