Shloka 38
दुन्दुभिनिर्ह्रादनिर्णयः / Dundubhinirhrāda’s Stratagem: Targeting the Brāhmaṇas
सनत्कुमार उवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तेषां भक्तानां चन्द्रशेखरः । तथेत्युक्त्वा पुनः प्राह स भक्तान्भक्तवत्सलः
sanatkumāra uvāca | ityākarṇya vacasteṣāṃ bhaktānāṃ candraśekharaḥ | tathetyuktvā punaḥ prāha sa bhaktānbhaktavatsalaḥ
Sanatkumāra said: Hearing the words of those devotees, Candraśekhara (Lord Śiva), ever tender toward His bhaktas, replied, “So be it,” and then spoke again to them.
Sanatkumara
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: Sanatkumāra narrates Śiva’s immediate assent (‘tathā’) to devotees’ petitions, highlighting bhakta-vātsalya as the mechanism by which a place becomes secured and sanctified by divine promise.
Significance: Emphasizes that sincere prayer at a tīrtha elicits Śiva’s swift grace; the Lord’s ‘so be it’ is treated as a performative boon guaranteeing protection.
Mantra: tathā
Type: stotra
Role: liberating
FAQs
It highlights Śiva’s nature as Bhaktavatsala—He listens to sincere devotees and responds with grace, showing that loving devotion (bhakti) is a direct means to receive the Lord’s protection and guidance.
By naming Śiva as Candraśekhara and portraying His personal response, the verse emphasizes Saguna worship—approaching Śiva with attributes and intimacy, as in Liṅga-pūjā where the devotee offers prayer and receives divine favor.
The takeaway is steady bhakti: pray and listen inwardly. In practice, perform Liṅga abhiṣeka while repeating the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with humility, trusting Śiva’s compassionate reply.