Shloka 16
सूत उवाच । इत्युक्तश्शंभुना तेन रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः । तथेति तत्समादाय जगाम भवनं निजम्
sūta uvāca | ityuktaśśaṃbhunā tena rāvaṇo rākṣaseśvaraḥ | tatheti tatsamādāya jagāma bhavanaṃ nijam
Sūta said: Thus instructed by Śambhu, Rāvaṇa, the lord of the Rākṣasas, replied, “So be it.” Taking that to heart, he departed and went to his own abode.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Jyotirlinga: Rāmeśvara
Sthala Purana: After receiving Śiva’s instruction/boon, Rāvaṇa accepts it and departs—this transition sets up the journey during which the liṅga will be set down and become established.
Significance: Frames the liṅga’s ‘travel’ motif: the sacred object carried with devotion becomes a permanent tīrtha through a divinely orchestrated interruption.
FAQs
It highlights Śiva’s anugraha (grace) working through instruction: even a powerful being like Rāvaṇa must accept Śambhu’s word and act accordingly, showing that true spiritual progress begins with obedience and surrender to Pati (the Lord).
Śambhu here functions as Saguna Śiva—personally guiding a devotee through speech and command. In Linga worship, the devotee similarly receives direction through śāstra and guru, and responds with “tathā” (acceptance), turning devotion into disciplined practice.
The takeaway is śiva-ājñā-anusaraṇa—following Śiva’s injunctions: maintain daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a mind of compliance and humility, and let actions align with dharma rather than ego.