Shloka 39
रावणस्य तपः-शिवानुग्रहः — Rāvaṇa’s Austerity and Śiva’s Bestowal of Grace
यदा न शंकरस्तुष्टस्ततश्च परिवर्तितम् । आगत्य वृक्षखंडे वै पुनस्तप्तं मया मुने
yadā na śaṃkarastuṣṭastataśca parivartitam | āgatya vṛkṣakhaṃḍe vai punastaptaṃ mayā mune
“When Śaṅkara was not yet satisfied, I altered my course accordingly; then, O sage, returning again to a piece of wood, I resumed my austerity there.”
A devotee/ascetic narrator within Suta Goswami’s Kotirudrasaṃhitā narration (speaking to a sage, “mune”)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahadeva
FAQs
It highlights steadfast tapas guided by humility: when Shiva is not yet pleased, the seeker refines the approach and continues disciplined practice until divine grace arises—an ethic central to Shaiva devotion.
By naming Śaṅkara’s satisfaction as the goal, it frames worship as a living relationship with Saguna Shiva—where sincere effort, purification, and corrected practice culminate in Shiva’s acceptance, often expressed through Linga-centered devotion in Kotirudra contexts.
The verse points to tapas (austerity) and perseverance; in Shaiva practice this commonly pairs with japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady observances (vrata), continuing until inner clarity and devotion mature.