Shloka 2
हिमालयगृहे नारदस्य आगमनम् तथा विश्वकर्मनिर्मितवैभववर्णनम् — Nārada’s Arrival at Himālaya’s Palace and the Description of Viśvakarman’s Marvels
अथ प्रणम्य सर्वेशं गतस्त्वं नारदाग्रतः । हरिणा नोदितः प्रीत्या हिमाचलगृहम्प्रति
atha praṇamya sarveśaṃ gatastvaṃ nāradāgrataḥ | hariṇā noditaḥ prītyā himācalagṛhamprati
Then, having bowed to the Lord of all, you set out ahead of Nārada; and, urged with affection by Hari (Viṣṇu), you proceeded toward the home of Himācala, the king of mountains (Himālaya).
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Purāṇic account to the sages, with earlier dialogue context involving Brahmā and Nārada)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Sthala Purana: No direct Jyotirliṅga reference; the movement toward Himācala’s home is part of the Pārvatī/Himālaya narrative stream rather than a liṅga-sthala māhātmya.
Significance: Models bhakti as praṇāma (prostration) to Sarveśa and dutiful travel for divine purpose; encourages tīrtha-like inner pilgrimage through obedience and devotion.
FAQs
The verse highlights humility (praṇāma) to Sarveśa (Śiva) as the prerequisite for any sacred mission, and shows how divine will operates through guidance—here, Hari’s affectionate prompting—leading the seeker toward the destined setting for Śiva-Śakti līlā.
By naming Śiva as Sarveśa, it affirms Saguna devotion—approaching the personal Lord with reverence—while also implying his supremacy beyond all. Such bowing is a core gesture in Liṅga-pūjā and in approaching Śiva’s sacred narratives with bhakti.
A practical takeaway is to begin worship or pilgrimage with praṇāma and remembrance of Śiva (e.g., japa of the Pañcākṣarī ‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya’) before undertaking actions, aligning one’s intent with devotion and divine guidance.