Shloka 3
Viṣṇoḥ Sahasranāma-stotreṇa Śiva-prasādaḥ
Vishnu’s Thousand-Name Hymn and Shiva’s Grace
पंकजेषु तदा तेषु सहस्रेषु बभूव च । न्यूनमेकं तदा विष्णुर्विह्वलश्शिवपूजने
paṃkajeṣu tadā teṣu sahasreṣu babhūva ca | nyūnamekaṃ tadā viṣṇurvihvalaśśivapūjane
Then, among those thousand lotuses, one was found to be missing. At that moment, Viṣṇu became deeply distressed in his worship of Lord Śiva.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Jyotirlinga: Oṃkāreśvara
Sthala Purana: The concealed lotus creates a deficiency in the sahasra-kamala offering; Viṣṇu’s agitation becomes the turning point that leads to the ultimate self-offering and Śiva’s revelation at Oṃkāra.
Significance: Teaches that ritual completeness is secondary to inner surrender; pilgrims emulate steadfastness when obstacles arise in worship.
Type: stotra
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It highlights that true bhakti seeks wholeness in offering and intention; even a single deficiency makes the devotee introspect and surrender more completely to Śiva, the supreme Pati (Lord) who perfects the devotee’s worship.
The verse reflects saguna-upāsanā—devotion expressed through concrete offerings (like lotuses) to Śiva as worshipful Lord (often as the Liṅga). The devotee’s distress shows the seriousness of pūjā as a disciplined, reverent approach to the divine presence.
It points to attentive, count-based offering (saṅkhyā-yukta arcana) with focused mind—such as repeating “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while offering flowers—emphasizing careful completion and single-pointed devotion.