स्वप्नवर्णनपूर्वकं संक्षेपशिवचरितवर्णनम् / Dream-Portents and a Concise Account of Śiva’s Career
ततः कालेन कियता विनाश्य गिरिजामदम् । प्रसादितस्सुतपसा प्रसन्नोऽभून्महेश्वरः
tataḥ kālena kiyatā vināśya girijāmadam | prasāditassutapasā prasanno'bhūnmaheśvaraḥ
Then, after some time had passed, Mahādeva removed the pride of Girijā (Pārvatī). Pleased and propitiated by her noble austerities, Maheśvara became gracious and favorable toward her.
Sūta Gosvāmī
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
It teaches that ego (mada) is a primary obstacle to union with Pati (Śiva), and that sincere tapas performed with humility ripens into Śiva’s prasāda—His liberating grace.
Maheśvara becoming “prasanna” reflects Saguna Śiva’s responsive grace to devotion and discipline; in Linga-worship, this is mirrored by steady abhiṣeka, japa, and vrata that purify pride and draw the Lord’s favor.
Adopt su-tapas in a Shaiva way: daily Panchākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), simple vrata/fasting (especially on Mondays or Mahāśivarātri), and worship with humility—optionally with bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as aids to steadiness.