Shloka 78
दशशैवव्रतप्रश्नः — Inquiry into the Ten Principal Śaiva Vratas
तावकस्त्वद्गतप्राणस्त्वच्चित्तोऽहं सदा मृड । कृपानिधे इति ज्ञात्वा यथा योग्यं तथा कुरु
tāvakastvadgataprāṇastvaccitto'haṃ sadā mṛḍa | kṛpānidhe iti jñātvā yathā yogyaṃ tathā kuru
O Mr̥ḍa, gütiger Śiva, ich bin allein Dein—mein Lebenshauch ruht in Dir, und mein Geist ist stets auf Dich gerichtet. O Schatzhaus des Erbarmens, da Du dies weißt, handle an mir so, wie es wahrhaft angemessen ist.
A devotee addressing Lord Shiva (as narrated within Suta Goswami’s Shiva Purana discourse)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Significance: Models śaraṇāgati (self-surrender): the paśu confesses total dependence (prāṇa and citta fixed in Śiva), invoking Śiva’s compassion as the basis for liberating grace.
Mantra: तावकस्त्वद्गतप्राणस्त्वच्चित्तोऽहं सदा मृड । कृपानिधे इति ज्ञात्वा यथा योग्यं तथा कुरु
Type: stotra
Role: liberating
FAQs
It expresses śaraṇāgati—total refuge in Śiva—where prāṇa (life-force) and citta (mind) are offered to Pati (the Lord). In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, the soul (paśu) turns from bondage (pāśa) and entrusts itself to Śiva’s grace (anugraha), accepting whatever He deems spiritually beneficial.
The devotee’s single-pointed fixation on Śiva aligns with saguna-upāsanā—approaching Śiva through accessible forms such as the Śiva-liṅga and sacred names. Such worship matures into inner surrender, where the devotee seeks not personal preference but Śiva’s fitting dispensation.
The practical takeaway is japa and remembrance with surrender: repeat the Panchākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") while offering prāṇa and mind to Śiva, and conclude prayerfully with acceptance—“Do as You deem fit.” If observing Mahāśivarātri, support it with liṅga-abhiṣeka, vibhūti (tripuṇḍra), and steady mantra-japa.