Shloka 14
Kedāreśvara-pratiṣṭhā: Nara-Nārāyaṇa’s Worship and Śiva’s Abiding as Jyoti
धृतश्च पाण्डवैस्तत्र ह्यवाङ्मुखतया स्थितः । पुच्छ चैव धृतं तैस्तु प्रार्थितश्च पुनःपुनः
dhṛtaśca pāṇḍavaistatra hyavāṅmukhatayā sthitaḥ | puccha caiva dhṛtaṃ taistu prārthitaśca punaḥpunaḥ
There the Pāṇḍavas restrained him, for he stood with his face turned downward. They held fast to his tail as well, and again and again they entreated him.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Jyotirlinga: Kedāranātha
Sthala Purana: As Śiva (buffalo-form) attempted to vanish, the Pāṇḍavas seized him—especially by the tail—pleading repeatedly; this grasping becomes the narrative hinge for the later division/manifestation of the Lord’s presence in the Kedāra region.
Significance: Models the sādhaka’s persistence: repeated prārthanā (entreaty) amid concealment is portrayed as the condition for eventual grace.
FAQs
The verse highlights humility and persistent supplication—qualities central to Shaiva bhakti—where earnest, repeated prayer and restraint of impulsive movement symbolize disciplining the mind and turning it toward Pati (Shiva), the liberator.
In Kotirudra contexts tied to Jyotirliṅga pilgrimage, the narrative mood supports Saguna worship: devotees repeatedly entreat the Lord’s manifest presence, learning steadiness, reverence, and surrender as they approach sacred tīrthas and liṅgas.
The practical takeaway is repeated prayer (japa) with humility—mentally ‘holding’ the wandering mind—such as steady Panchākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) during pilgrimage, darśana, or Mahāśivarātri observance.