Shloka 31
दधीचाश्रमगमनम् — Viṣṇu’s Disguise and Dadhīca’s Fearlessness
Kṣu’s Request
ततस्तद्विस्मयाथाय दधीचेस्य मुनेर्हरिः । विश्वमूर्तिरभूच्छीघ्रं महामायाविशारदः
tatastadvismayāthāya dadhīcesya munerhariḥ | viśvamūrtirabhūcchīghraṃ mahāmāyāviśāradaḥ
Then, to awaken wonder in the sage Dadhīci, Hari—adept in the workings of the great Māyā—swiftly assumed the form of the universe itself, manifesting as Viśvarūpa.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
FAQs
The verse highlights how divine power (māyā) can produce awe-inspiring visions like the viśvarūpa, yet such wonders are ultimately pedagogical—meant to turn the seeker from fascination toward discernment and steadfast devotion to the Highest Reality (Pati), revered as Shiva in the Purana’s Shaiva frame.
Like the viśvarūpa, the Linga is a saguna support for worship that draws the mind toward Shiva. The Purana’s intent is not to stop at the marvel of form, but to use form-based devotion to mature into inner recognition of Shiva as the transcendent Lord beyond all manifested appearances.
A practical takeaway is to steady the mind when extraordinary experiences arise: continue regular Shiva-upāsanā—japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), meditation on the Linga, and (where traditional) Tripuṇḍra-bhasma and Rudrākṣa—so devotion and clarity deepen beyond mere wonder.