Shloka 28
बाणासुरस्य शङ्करस्तुतिः तथा युद्धयाचनम् | Bāṇāsura’s Praise of Śiva and Petition for Battle
माधवं माधवे मासि पूजयित्वा महानिशि । सुप्ता चांतः पुरे गुप्ते स्त्रीभावमुपलंभिता
mādhavaṃ mādhave māsi pūjayitvā mahāniśi | suptā cāṃtaḥ pure gupte strībhāvamupalaṃbhitā
Having worshipped Mādhava (Viṣṇu) in the month of Mādhava (Vaiśākha), on that great night she fell asleep within the inner, concealed quarters of the city; and upon waking/being noticed, she was found to have assumed a woman’s state (feminine form/condition).
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
It highlights how a single-minded observance and worship performed at an auspicious time can precipitate a decisive inner and outer turning-point—symbolizing karmic ripening and divinely governed transformation within Purāṇic destiny.
Though this verse names Mādhava (Viṣṇu), the Yuddhakhaṇḍa narrative framework ultimately serves Rudra’s cosmic purpose; in Śaiva reading, even saguna devatā-worship functions under Śiva’s lordship (Pati) and can become an instrument leading beings toward Śiva’s intended unfolding of events.
The verse points to time-bound devotional observance (māsa-vrata) and night worship; a Śaiva takeaway is to pair such vrata with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined purity/guardedness (gupte) of mind and place during night practices.