Shloka 41
ज्योतिर्लिङ्गमाहात्म्य-प्रस्तावना तथा सोमनाथ-प्रसङ्गः
Prologue to the Glory and Origin of the Jyotirliṅgas; Somnātha Episode Begins
तं दृष्ट्वा शंकरो देवः प्रसन्नोऽभूत्ततः प्रभुः । आविर्भूय विधुं प्राह स्वभक्तं भक्तवत्सलः
taṃ dṛṣṭvā śaṃkaro devaḥ prasanno'bhūttataḥ prabhuḥ | āvirbhūya vidhuṃ prāha svabhaktaṃ bhaktavatsalaḥ
Als er ihn sah, wurde der Herr Śaṅkara, der souveräne Deva, voller Wohlgefallen. Dann offenbarte sich der Herr, der Seine Verehrer liebt, und sprach zu Vidhu, Seinem eigenen Bhakta.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Jyotirlinga: Somanātha
Sthala Purana: Śiva, pleased by Chandra’s steadfast upāsanā, manifests (āvirbhūya) at Prabhāsa and addresses him—this divine epiphany grounds Somnātha’s fame as a kṣetra of direct grace and restoration.
Significance: Promises bhakta-vātsalya: devotees seek tangible reassurance, removal of fear, and compassionate response to sincere sādhana at Somnātha.
Role: liberating
FAQs
It highlights Śiva’s anugraha (grace): when sincere devotion ripens, the Lord becomes prasanna (pleased) and personally reveals Himself, affirming that bhakti is a direct means to divine communion and liberation.
Though Śiva is ultimately beyond form (nirguṇa), this verse emphasizes His saguna compassion—He ‘appears’ (āvirbhūya) for the devotee. Linga-worship trains the mind in steady reverence so that the formless Lord is approached through a sacred, accessible form.
The takeaway is steadfast bhakti: daily Linga-pūjā with Panchākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), along with purity and humility, as the inner disposition that invites Śiva’s grace and guidance.