Shloka 20
शिवशिवयोर्जगत्पितृमातृत्व-प्रतिपादनं तथा मेनायाः विमोहः (Śiva–Śivā as Cosmic Father and Mother; Menā’s Delusion and the Sages’ Intervention)
अयाचितारं सर्वेशं प्रार्थयामास यत्नतः । तारकस्य विनाशाय ब्रह्मासम्बंधकर्म्मणि
ayācitāraṃ sarveśaṃ prārthayāmāsa yatnataḥ | tārakasya vināśāya brahmāsambaṃdhakarmmaṇi
With earnest effort, he prayed to the Lord of all—who needs no one to solicit Him—seeking the destruction of Tāraka, in an act undertaken in connection with Brahmā’s ordained task.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: Contextualizes prayer to Sarveśa for Tāraka’s destruction—part of the larger mythic arc where divine intervention (through Śiva’s will and subsequent events) removes asuric obstruction.
Significance: Teaches that even when Īśvara is ‘ayācita’ (needs no solicitation), bhakti-prārthanā aligns the world with dharma; devotees seek removal of inner ‘Tāraka’ (ego/avidyā) through Śiva’s saṃhāra and anugraha.
Cosmic Event: Asura Tāraka’s menace and the divine plan to end it (implied)
FAQs
It highlights that even when cosmic duties and boons create imbalance, restoration ultimately depends on Sarveśvara—Shiva, the self-sufficient Lord—approached through sincere prayer and alignment with dharma.
The verse points to Saguna Shiva as Sarveśvara who responds to devotion and protects cosmic order; in Shaiva practice this is embodied in Linga worship, where the devotee petitions Shiva for the removal of adharmic obstacles.
The practical takeaway is steadfast prayer (prārthanā) to Shiva—traditionally supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as aids to focused devotion.