Shloka 46
Viśvānara-Gṛhapati Upākhyāna — Śivasya Agni-gṛhe Avatāraḥ
The Account of Viśvānara Gṛhapati and Śiva’s Descent into the House of Fire
शब्दं गृह्णास्यश्रवास्त्वं हि जिघ्रस्यप्राणस्त्वं त्र्यंघ्रिरायासि दूरात् । त्र्यक्षः पश्येस्त्वं रसज्ञोऽप्यजिह्वः कस्त्वां सम्यग्वेत्त्यतस्त्वाम्प्रपद्ये
śabdaṃ gṛhṇāsyaśravāstvaṃ hi jighrasyaprāṇastvaṃ tryaṃghrirāyāsi dūrāt | tryakṣaḥ paśyestvaṃ rasajño'pyajihvaḥ kastvāṃ samyagvettyatastvāmprapadye
You apprehend sound though You are without ears; You smell though You are without breath; with three feet You come from afar. With three eyes You see; though without a tongue, You yet know taste. Who can truly know You in full? Therefore I take refuge in You.
Suta Goswami (narrating the hymn/praise as part of the Shatarudra discourse)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Īśāna
FAQs
It declares Shiva as the supreme Pati who transcends bodily instruments—He knows without ears, tongue, or breath—so the devotee abandons limited concepts and takes refuge in Him for liberation.
The Linga signifies the formless, sense-transcending Shiva; worshiping the Linga with forms and rituals supports the mind, while this verse reminds the seeker that Shiva’s true nature is beyond all sensory attributes.
Practice śaraṇāgati (surrender) with japa of the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” contemplating Shiva as the inner knower beyond the senses; offer simple Linga-upacāra (water, bilva) as an aid to steady devotion.