Shloka 63
नारीसन्देहभञ्जक-शम्भ्ववतारकथा
The Account of Śambhu’s Incarnation that Dispels Doubts Concerning Women
अथ सा विप्रवनिता ज्ञात्वा तं शंकरम्प्रभुम् । सुप्रणम्य हि तुष्टाव प्रेम्णा गद्गदया गिरा
atha sā vipravanitā jñātvā taṃ śaṃkaramprabhum | supraṇamya hi tuṣṭāva premṇā gadgadayā girā
Da erkannte jene Brahmanenfrau Ihn als Śaṅkara, den höchsten Herrn. Tief verneigte sie sich und pries Ihn in Liebe, mit einer vor Hingabe bebenden Stimme.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; it illustrates recognition (pratyabhijñā-like ‘jñātvā’) and bhakti-response to Śiva’s self-manifestation.
Significance: Models the pilgrim’s inner act: recognizing the Lord (jñāna) and responding with praṇāma and stuti (bhakti), considered a direct means to receive grace.
Type: stotra
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
The verse highlights recognition (jñāna) ripening into devotion (bhakti): when the soul perceives Śiva as Pati (the Supreme Lord), spontaneous surrender and loving praise arise—an opening for Śiva’s anugraha (grace) that loosens pāśa (bondage).
It exemplifies Saguna-upāsanā: the devotee identifies the accessible, gracious Lord (Śaṅkara) and responds with namaskāra and stuti. In Linga worship too, inner recognition of the Lord’s presence is primary, and outward reverence expresses that realization.
The practical takeaway is praṇāma (prostration) followed by stotra-pāṭha with one-pointed love; it pairs naturally with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) as a devotional practice to steady the mind and invite Śiva’s grace.