Shloka 34
Viśveśvara-māhātmya and the Nirguṇa–Saguṇa Emergence of Śiva (Śakti–Puruṣa/Prakṛti Discourse)
सूत उवाच । अविमुक्तेऽपि दान्तात्मा तं संप्रार्थ्य पुनः पुनः । नेत्राश्रूणि प्रमुच्यैव प्रीतः प्रोवाच शंकरम्
sūta uvāca | avimukte'pi dāntātmā taṃ saṃprārthya punaḥ punaḥ | netrāśrūṇi pramucyaiva prītaḥ provāca śaṃkaram
Sūta said: Even in Avimukta, that self-restrained man repeatedly implored him again and again; and shedding tears from his eyes, he—filled with devotion and joy—spoke to Śaṅkara (Lord Śiva).
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: Explicit mention of Avimukta anchors the episode in Kāśī’s ‘never-abandoned’ sanctity; repeated prayer with tears is a hallmark of kṣetra-māhātmya narratives where Śiva responds with grace.
Significance: Highlights bhakti as the inner qualification for receiving Śiva’s saving response in Avimukta; reinforces Kāśī as a grace-saturated field (anugraha-kṣetra).
Type: stotra
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It highlights the Shaiva ideal of dānta-ātmā (inner discipline) joined with intense bhakti: repeated prayer and tears indicate wholehearted surrender to Śiva, the compassionate Pati who responds to sincere devotion—especially in Avimukta, the moksha-bestowing realm.
The verse depicts a personal approach to Śaṅkara (Saguna Śiva)—the devotee directly petitions the Lord with emotion and humility. In Kotirudrasaṃhitā’s Jyotirlinga context, such heartfelt supplication is the inner essence behind outer Linga worship and pilgrimage.
The implied practice is repeated earnest prayer (japa-like repetition) with self-restraint; a fitting takeaway is steady Panchākṣarī japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) combined with disciplined conduct, allowing devotion to soften the heart during Linga-darśana or meditation.