Shloka 25
Śiva–Arjuna Yuddha and the Subjugation of Pride (Śiva-parīkṣā)
शंकर उवाच । न खिद्य पार्थ भक्तोसि मम त्वं हि विशेषतः । परीक्षार्थं मया तेऽद्य कृतमेवं शुचञ्जहि
śaṃkara uvāca | na khidya pārtha bhaktosi mama tvaṃ hi viśeṣataḥ | parīkṣārthaṃ mayā te'dya kṛtamevaṃ śucañjahi
Śaṅkara sprach: „Klage nicht, o Pārtha. Du bist wahrlich Mein Bhakta, Mir ganz besonders lieb. Heute handelte Ich nur, um dich zu prüfen. Darum gib den Kummer auf.“
Lord Shiva (Shankara)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahadeva
Type: stotra
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse teaches that trials faced by a devotee can be Śiva’s compassionate “test,” meant to mature surrender (śaraṇāgati) and stabilize bhakti; grief is to be released when one recognizes the Lord’s guiding hand.
It affirms Saguna Śiva as a personal Lord who speaks, protects, and educates the devotee; Linga-worship similarly trains the mind to trust Śiva’s presence even when circumstances appear challenging.
A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with a vow of non-despair, offering one’s suffering to Śiva and consciously letting go of śoka (grief).