Shloka 22
ईश्वरागमनं हिमवदादि-समागमश्च / The Arrival of Īśvara and the Assembly of Himālaya, Devas, and Mountains
कारयित्वा विशेषेण चतुष्कन्तो रणैर्युतम् । स्नानदानादिकं कृत्वा परीक्षामकरोत्तदा
kārayitvā viśeṣeṇa catuṣkanto raṇairyutam | snānadānādikaṃ kṛtvā parīkṣāmakarottadā
Dann ließ er eigens eine vierseitige Kampfarena errichten und mit Kriegsgerät ausstatten; nachdem er das rituelle Bad, Almosengaben und verwandte Riten vollzogen hatte, führte er daraufhin zu jener Zeit die Prüfung durch.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra
Sthala Purana: A specially prepared four-sided arena with martial fittings suggests a formal trial/contest as part of the narrative’s ceremonial progression; it is not framed as a Jyotirliṅga episode.
Significance: Emphasizes dharma-tested worthiness: purification (snāna), generosity (dāna), and examination before receiving higher auspiciousness—an ethical-ritual precondition to grace.
FAQs
It shows that major undertakings should be preceded by śuddhi (purification) and dharma—snāna and dāna—so that action is aligned with devotion and right order, supporting a Shaiva path where outer discipline steadies inner bhakti.
The emphasis on preparatory rites mirrors Shaiva practice before approaching Saguna Shiva in pūjā—purifying oneself, offering charity, and then proceeding to the intended act—reflecting reverence and readiness to receive Shiva’s grace.
Perform snāna (ritual bath) and dāna (charitable offering) as preliminaries; in Shaiva usage, this can be paired with simple japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to steady intention before any vow or test.