Shloka 16
Viśvānara-Gṛhapati Upākhyāna — Śivasya Agni-gṛhe Avatāraḥ
The Account of Viśvānara Gṛhapati and Śiva’s Descent into the House of Fire
अहो किं मे तया तन्व्या प्रार्थितं ह्यतिदुर्लभम् । मनोरथपथाद्दूरमस्तु वा स हि सर्व्वकृत्
aho kiṃ me tayā tanvyā prārthitaṃ hyatidurlabham | manorathapathāddūramastu vā sa hi sarvvakṛt
“Alas—what has that slender one asked of me? Is it something exceedingly hard to obtain? Let it be far beyond the path of ordinary desire, for He is the Doer of all (Śiva), able to accomplish everything.”
Suta Goswami (narrative voice, conveying the inner reflection within the Śatarudra context)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Teaches that what appears ‘atidurlabha’ to worldly calculation is possible by Śiva, the sarvakartṛ; encourages surrender beyond limited desire.
Role: liberating
FAQs
The verse contrasts ordinary desire (manoratha) with the higher reality of Śiva as Sarvakṛt—the all-accomplishing Lord—implying that what seems impossible to the limited self becomes possible through divine grace and right orientation toward liberation.
By affirming Śiva as the effective agent behind all results, it supports Saguna devotion—approaching Śiva (often through the Liṅga) as the compassionate, capable Lord who grants both worldly boons and the higher gift of release when worship is aligned with dharma and surrender.
A practical takeaway is to offer prayers with surrender while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and to refine requests away from mere wish-fulfillment toward inner purification—supported by Śiva-pūjā with bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa if one follows those observances.