शिवस्तुतिवर्णनम् (Śiva-stuti-varṇanam) — “Description of Hymns in Praise of Śiva”
एवं कृत्वा महादेवं दंडवत्प्रणिपत्य ह । जजाप रुद्रमंत्रं च दक्षिणामूर्तिसंभवम्
evaṃ kṛtvā mahādevaṃ daṃḍavatpraṇipatya ha | jajāpa rudramaṃtraṃ ca dakṣiṇāmūrtisaṃbhavam
Having done so, he bowed to Mahādeva with full prostration (daṇḍavat) and then recited the Rudra-mantra—revealed through Dakṣiṇāmūrti—taking refuge in Śiva’s grace-bestowing instruction.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Type: rudram
Role: teaching
It teaches that true approach to Śiva begins with complete surrender (daṇḍavat praṇāma) and continues with disciplined mantra-japa, aligning the devotee with Śiva’s grace and liberating knowledge as Dakṣiṇāmūrti.
The verse models Saguna worship—reverent bodily prostration and audible/mental japa—through which the devotee gains steadiness and purity, preparing the mind to realize Śiva beyond form while still worshipping Him in form.
Perform full prostration to Śiva and undertake Rudra-mantra japa with guru-bhāva (seeing Śiva as Dakṣiṇāmūrti), maintaining focused repetition as a daily sādhana or on Mahāśivarātri.