Shloka 77
Arjuna’s Himalayan Departure and the Commencement of Severe Tapas
Janamejaya’s Inquiry; Sages Approach Śiva
दक्षयज्ञविनाशाय हरिरुद्राय वै नमः । ललाटाक्षाय शर्वाय मीढुषे शूलपाणये,दक्षयज्ञका विनाश करनेवाले हरिहररूप आप भगवान्को नमस्कार है। आपके ललाटमें तृतीय नेत्र शोभा पाता है। आप जगत्का संहारक होनेके कारण शर्व कहलाते हैं। भक्तोंकी अभीष्ट कामनाओंकी वर्षा करनेके कारण आपका नाम मीढ्वान् (वर्षणशील) है। अपने हाथमें त्रिशूल धारण करनेवाले आपको नमस्कार है
dakṣayajñavināśāya harirudrāya vai namaḥ | lalāṭākṣāya śarvāya mīḍhuṣe śūlapāṇaye ||
Salutations indeed to that Hari-Rudra who brought about the destruction of Dakṣa’s sacrifice. Homage to the Lord whose third eye shines upon the forehead; to Śarva, the dissolver of the worlds; to Mīḍhuṣa, the one who rains down the boons desired by devotees; and to the trident-bearer.
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches reverence for divine authority that upholds dharma: ritual power without humility can be corrected, while sincere devotion is rewarded. By praising Śiva as both destroyer (Śarva) and benefactor (Mīḍhuṣa), Arjuna highlights that divine action can be simultaneously punitive toward arrogance and compassionate toward devotees.
Arjuna offers a formal salutation (stuti) to Śiva, invoking well-known epithets and the episode of Dakṣa’s sacrifice to acknowledge Śiva’s supremacy and his role as both cosmic dissolver and boon-giver. The praise situates Arjuna in a posture of devotion and seeking divine favor/aid.