Shloka 31
गाणपत्यदानकथा
Bāṇāsura Receives Gaṇapatya; Genealogical Prelude
रुद्रसद्भावभक्तानां भवदोषाश्च विस्तृताः । तस्मिन्दृष्टे प्रजास्सर्वाः सुप्रीतिं परमां ययुः
rudrasadbhāvabhaktānāṃ bhavadoṣāśca vistṛtāḥ | tasmindṛṣṭe prajāssarvāḥ suprītiṃ paramāṃ yayuḥ
The faults of saṃsāra that trouble even those devoted to Rudra with sincere feeling were set forth in detail. Yet, upon beholding Him, all the people attained the highest gladness and deep contentment.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakshinamurti
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it articulates a key Siddhānta dynamic: even sincere Rudra-bhaktas may carry ‘bhava-doṣa’ (saṃsāric blemish) which becomes manifest/diagnosed, yet Śiva’s darśana grants suprīti (deep peace-joy), indicating grace beyond merit.
Significance: Darśana is presented as transformative: seeing Śiva yields ‘paramā suprīti’ even when one’s bondage is exposed—encouraging honest self-recognition and reliance on anugraha rather than self-justification.
Role: liberating
FAQs
It highlights that even sincere devotees may still carry saṃsāric blemishes, yet Śiva’s darśana awakens supreme inner joy—pointing to grace (anugraha) as the decisive purifier in the Shaiva Siddhanta view of Pati liberating the bound soul.
The verse centers on the transforming power of beholding Śiva (saguṇa darśana). In Linga worship, this is mirrored by focused sight and reverence toward the Śiva-liṅga, where the devotee’s mind turns from worldly defects toward Śiva’s auspicious presence.
Cultivate sadbhāva-bhakti through daily Śiva-darśana—mentally or before the liṅga—while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” letting the awareness of saṃsāric faults mature into surrender and receptivity to Śiva’s grace.