Shloka 31
शारभावतारवर्णनम्
Account of Śiva’s Śārabha Manifestation and the Measureless Avatāras
तत्र गत्वा सुरास्सर्वे ब्रह्माद्या मुनय स्तथा । शंकरं स्तवयामासुर्लोकानां सुखहेतवे
tatra gatvā surāssarve brahmādyā munaya stathā | śaṃkaraṃ stavayāmāsurlokānāṃ sukhahetave
Going there, all the devas—together with Brahmā and the sages—began to hymn Śaṅkara, the Lord who is the very cause of the worlds’ welfare and happiness.
Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva Purana to the sages of Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Śarabheśvara
Sthala Purana: The gathering of devas and sages to praise Śaṅkara is a generic Purāṇic stuti-setting rather than a localized Jyotirliṅga māhātmya.
Significance: Models the liturgical act: communal stuti as a means to invoke Śiva’s grace for loka-kṣema (welfare of worlds).
Type: stotra
Role: nurturing
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
The verse presents Shiva (Śaṅkara) as the ultimate cause of the world’s well-being, showing that even devas and sages rely on bhakti (hymns and praise) to seek loka-kalyāṇa through His grace.
By depicting collective stuti to Śaṅkara, it emphasizes saguna-upāsanā—devotional worship of Shiva with attributes—commonly expressed through stotras and, in practice, through Liṅga-pūjā as a direct, accessible form of reverence.
The immediate takeaway is stotra-pāṭha (recitation of Shiva hymns) with devotional intent; it may be paired with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” as a focused practice for peace and welfare.