Shloka 55
वीरभद्र-भैरव-आह्वानम् — Invocation of Vīrabhadra/Bhairava for Cosmic Reabsorption
ये मया सकला लोका गृहीतास्त्वं पयोनिधौ । निद्रापरवशश्शेषे स कथं सात्त्विको भवान्
ye mayā sakalā lokā gṛhītāstvaṃ payonidhau | nidrāparavaśaśśeṣe sa kathaṃ sāttviko bhavān
“All the worlds have been seized by me, while you lie in the Ocean of Milk, overcome by sleep upon Śeṣa. How, then, can you be called ‘sāttvika’ (pure, established in sattva)?”
Hiranyakashipu (addressing Vishnu, implied by 'Ocean of Milk' and 'Śeṣa')
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Significance: Illustrates deluded polemics of the bound soul: judging guṇas and divinity from partial perception; encourages discernment and turning to Śiva for release from māyā.
FAQs
The verse exposes how ‘sattva’ can be misunderstood as mere outward status or reputation. From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, true purity is not proved by labels but by alignment with dharma and surrender to the Supreme Pati (Shiva), who transcends the three guṇas.
By contrasting worldly power with spiritual authority, the text indirectly points to Saguna Shiva as the Lord who governs and dissolves pride rooted in guṇas. Linga-worship trains the devotee to see the Divine beyond appearances—beyond claims like “I am sāttvika” or “I am victorious.”
A practical takeaway is guṇa-śuddhi through daily Shiva-upāsanā: japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), wearing Rudrākṣa with humility, and applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder of impermanence and ego-dissolution.