Shloka 23
व्योमवाणी-श्रवणं, गणानां शरणागमनं, सती-दाह-वृत्तान्तः — Hearing the Heavenly Voice; The Gaṇas Seek Refuge; Account of Satī’s Self-Immolation
स भूमिं विश्वतो वृत्त्वात्यतिष्ठद्दशांगुलम् । प्रलयानलसंकाशः प्रोन्नतो दोस्सहस्रवान्
sa bhūmiṃ viśvato vṛttvātyatiṣṭhaddaśāṃgulam | pralayānalasaṃkāśaḥ pronnato dossahasravān
Encompassing the earth on every side, He stood rising ten finger-breadths above it—lofty, blazing like the fire of cosmic dissolution, and bearing a thousand arms that were impossible to withstand.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra
Role: destructive
Cosmic Event: pralaya-fire simile (pralayānala-saṃkāśa)
FAQs
The verse portrays Shiva’s overwhelming, all-encompassing sovereignty—His Saguna manifestation that subdues cosmic disorder and reveals His role as Pati (the Supreme Lord) who transcends and contains the world.
By describing Shiva’s vast, fiery, many-armed form, the text supports Saguna upāsanā—devotion to a perceivable form—while implying that such forms point to the same Supreme reality worshipped in the Linga as the all-pervading Lord.
Contemplate Shiva as the all-encompassing Protector while repeating the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and reinforce steadiness with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder of pralaya and detachment.