Shloka 14
Śiva-nāma-smaraṇa and Śambhu’s Protective Manifestation
Dāruka Episode
सर्वांस्तांश्च तदा हत्वा वरं प्रादाद्वनस्य च । अत्यद्भुतकरश्शंभुस्स्वलीलात्तसुविग्रहः
sarvāṃstāṃśca tadā hatvā varaṃ prādādvanasya ca | atyadbhutakaraśśaṃbhussvalīlāttasuvigrahaḥ
Having then slain all of them, Śambhu—whose deeds are wondrous, and who assumes forms by His own divine play—bestowed a boon upon that forest as well.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Rudra
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode in this verse; the focus is Śiva’s punitive protection of a sacred space (vana) followed by bestowal of a boon, a common Purāṇic motif for consecrating a kṣetra/āraṇya as dharma-supporting.
Significance: Frames the forest as a Śiva-protected dharma-kṣetra: violence (saṃhāra) is subordinated to restoration of order and eventual grace (anugraha) through boons.
FAQs
It highlights Śiva as both the remover of obstructive forces (through destruction of adharma) and the giver of grace (anugraha). In Shaiva Siddhanta, liberation depends not merely on effort but on the Lord’s compassionate bestowal of blessing after impurities are subdued.
The verse portrays Śambhu as ‘assuming forms by His own līlā,’ affirming Saguna worship: the Lord freely manifests for devotees and for protecting sacred spaces. Linga-worship similarly approaches the transcendent through a merciful, accessible manifestation.
A practical takeaway is to seek Śiva’s anugraha through daily Panchakshara japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and simple temple/linga worship with vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) as a reminder that Śiva both purifies and blesses.