ततो विज्ञाय देवेशं यथावच्छक्तिसंभवैः । मंत्रं महेश्वरं देवं तुष्टाव सुमहोदयम्
tato vijñāya deveśaṃ yathāvacchaktisaṃbhavaiḥ | maṃtraṃ maheśvaraṃ devaṃ tuṣṭāva sumahodayam
Then, having rightly understood the Lord of the gods—arisen through the due manifestation of His Śakti—he praised that great-souled, highly auspicious Deva Maheśvara, who is Himself the sacred Mantra.
Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: creative
Cosmic Event: Recognition of the Lord as mantra-essence through śakti-manifestation (śakti-saṃbhava) leading to praise
It teaches that true worship begins after right recognition of Devaśa Shiva as Pati (the Lord) revealed through His Śakti; then the devotee naturally responds with stuti, aligning mind and speech with Shiva.
By calling Maheśvara “the Mantra,” the verse supports Saguna upāsanā: Shiva is approached through name, form, and mantra (often centered on the Liṅga), which become living gateways to the Supreme.
Mantra-japa with devotional praise is implied—especially Panchākṣarī-japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with focused contemplation that Shiva is mantra-svarūpa, followed by stotra or heartfelt stuti.