Shloka 24
Droṇācārya’s Tapas and the Manifestation of Śiva: The Birth-Grant of Aśvatthāmā (अश्वत्थामा-अवतार-प्रसङ्गः)
अर्जुन उवाच । किमिदं स्वित्कुतो वेति कृष्ण कृष्ण न वेद्म्यहम् । सर्वतोमुखमायाति तेजश्चेदं सुदु्स्सहम्
arjuna uvāca | kimidaṃ svitkuto veti kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa na vedmyaham | sarvatomukhamāyāti tejaścedaṃ sudu्ssaham
Arjuna sprach: „O Kṛṣṇa, o Kṛṣṇa—was ist dies, und woher ist es gekommen? Ich weiß es nicht. Dieses Leuchten stürzt auf mich zu, mit Gesichtern nach allen Seiten, und seine Glut ist unerträglich.“
Arjuna
Tattva Level: pashu
Mantra: kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa
Cosmic Event: All-faced, all-directional tejas evokes viśvarūpa-like omnidirectional manifestation (upamā).
FAQs
It shows the finite ego-mind (jīva) confronting the Lord’s immeasurable tejas—an encounter that breaks ordinary certainty and moves the seeker toward humility, surrender, and the need for divine guidance to truly “know” the Supreme.
The ‘all-facing radiance’ points to the Lord’s all-pervading presence; Linga-worship offers a compassionate saguna support (ālambana) for the mind to approach that infinite reality without being overwhelmed by its boundlessness.
Steady the mind through japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with reverence, and support it with Shaiva disciplines like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa—practices that cultivate surrender and inner endurance before divine tejas.