Shloka 19
गौतमस्य शिवदर्शनं पापक्षयवचनं च | Gautama’s Vision of Śiva and the Teaching on Sin and Purification
यदि प्रसन्नो देवेश गंगा च दीयतां मम । कुरु लोकोपकारं हि नमस्तेऽस्तु नमोऽस्तु ते
yadi prasanno deveśa gaṃgā ca dīyatāṃ mama | kuru lokopakāraṃ hi namaste'stu namo'stu te
O Lord of the gods, if You are pleased, then grant the Gaṅgā to me. Do this for the welfare of the worlds. Salutations to You—again and again I bow to You.
A devatā/supplicant addressing Lord Shiva (Deveśa) within the Kotirudrasaṃhitā narrative on Gaṅgā’s descent and world-welfare
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Sthala Purana: Gaṅgā-yācñā: the supplicant requests Śiva to ‘give Gaṅgā’ for loka-upakāra. In purāṇic theology, Gaṅgā’s descent is mediated by Śiva’s jaṭā, who alone can bear and regulate her force for the world’s welfare.
Significance: Invokes Śiva as the regulator of grace flowing into the world; bathing/remembering Gaṅgā as Śiva-jaṭā-jalā is held to purify pāśa (bondage) and support dharma.
Mantra: नमस्तेऽस्तु नमोऽस्तु ते
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Gaurī
Role: nurturing
Cosmic Event: Gaṅgā’s regulated descent (avataraṇa) through Śiva’s agency (implied)
FAQs
The verse models śaraṇāgati (surrender): the devotee seeks Shiva’s grace not for mere personal gain but explicitly for lokopakāra—universal welfare—showing that Shiva’s boons are aligned with dharma and the purification of beings.
Addressing Shiva as “Deveśa” reflects Saguna-bhakti—prayer to the personal Lord who hears, is pleased, and grants blessings. In Linga worship, the devotee similarly petitions with humility, offering reverence (namas) and seeking Shiva’s compassionate intervention in the world.
A practical takeaway is repeated namaskāra with a welfare-intention (sarva-loka-hita), accompanied by Shiva-pūjā such as offering water (jalābhiṣeka) while mentally repeating the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” dedicating the merit for the good of all.