Shloka 53
रावणस्य तपः-शिवानुग्रहः — Rāvaṇa’s Austerity and Śiva’s Bestowal of Grace
तदा वृतं मयैतच्च देहि मे ह्यतुलं बलम् । यदि प्रसन्नो देवेश दुर्ल्लभं किं भवेन्मम
tadā vṛtaṃ mayaitacca dehi me hyatulaṃ balam | yadi prasanno deveśa durllabhaṃ kiṃ bhavenmama
Da bat ich: „Dies ist die Gabe, die ich wähle: gewähre mir unvergleichliche Kraft. Wenn Du wahrhaft zufrieden bist, o Herr der Devas, was könnte mir dann noch unerreichbar sein?“
A devotee/boon-seeker addressing Lord Shiva (Deveśa) within Suta’s Kotirudra narration
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: The devotee articulates the boon: ‘atula bala’ (incomparable strength), reasoning that if Deveśa is pleased nothing is unattainable—typical Purāṇic boon logic grounded in īśvara-prasāda.
Significance: Illustrates the doctrine that all siddhis and worldly attainments are contingent upon Śiva’s favor; also warns implicitly that boons sought may remain within saṃsāric aims unless redirected toward mokṣa.
FAQs
The verse highlights Śiva’s anugraha (grace): when the Lord is pleased by devotion, the devotee’s limitations are removed and even what is ‘durlabha’ (rare/unattainable) becomes attainable through divine support.
Addressing Śiva as Deveśa reflects Saguna worship—approaching the personal Lord who responds to prayer. In Jyotirliṅga contexts, the Liṅga is the accessible, compassionate form through which Śiva grants boons and uplifts devotees.
A practical takeaway is prayerful surrender with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and focused worship (abhisheka/archana) seeking inner ‘strength’—steadfastness in dharma, devotion, and self-control.