Shloka 33
बाणस्य शोकः शिवस्मरणं च — Bāṇa’s Grief and the Turn to Śiva-Remembrance
ततश्शंभोः प्रसादेन महाकालत्वमागतः । रुद्रस्यानुचरो बाणो महाप्रमुदितोऽभवत्
tataśśaṃbhoḥ prasādena mahākālatvamāgataḥ | rudrasyānucaro bāṇo mahāpramudito'bhavat
Thereafter, by Śambhu’s gracious favor, Bāṇa attained the state of Mahākāla. That attendant of Rudra became exceedingly delighted.
Sūta Gosvāmin
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahākāla
Jyotirlinga: Mahākāleśvara
Sthala Purana: Mahākāla is the Lord as Time-transcendent; the verse uses ‘mahākālatva’ as a bestowed status, echoing the Mahākāla theonym central to Ujjayinī’s Jyotirliṅga tradition.
Significance: Darśana of Mahākāleśvara is sought for fearlessness before time/death and for Śiva’s protective grace; here, ‘mahākālatva’ signifies elevation into Śiva’s retinue by prasāda.
Role: liberating
Cosmic Event: Mahākāla motif: transformation of the devotee’s destiny through Śiva’s prasāda (grace).
FAQs
It highlights Śiva’s prasāda as the decisive power that elevates a devotee-servant beyond ordinary status—showing that in Shaiva Siddhānta, divine grace (anugraha) is central to transformation and upliftment.
The verse emphasizes Śambhu’s personal, compassionate agency (Saguna Śiva) who bestows a specific divine state (Mahākāla). Such narratives support devotional Linga-worship where the Lord is approached as a gracious giver of protection, rank, and spiritual elevation.
Cultivate bhakti grounded in seeking Śiva’s prasāda—daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as supportive disciplines, offered with the attitude of humble service (anucarya).