Shloka 18
Vaiśyanātha-avatāra-kathā
The Account of Śiva’s Manifestation as Vaiśyanātha
महानन्दोवाच । महारत्नमयश्चायं कंकणस्त्वत्करे स्थितः । मनो हरति मे सद्यो दिव्यस्त्रीभूषणोचितः
mahānandovāca | mahāratnamayaścāyaṃ kaṃkaṇastvatkare sthitaḥ | mano harati me sadyo divyastrībhūṣaṇocitaḥ
Mahānanda said: “This bracelet, made of great gems, now rests upon your hand. It instantly captivates my mind—fit indeed as a divine ornament for a celestial lady.”
Mahānanda
Tattva Level: pasha
FAQs
The verse highlights how divine beauty and sacred splendor can spontaneously draw the mind, turning ordinary perception into devotional attention—an entry point to bhakti that ultimately matures toward liberation under Shiva’s grace.
Though it speaks of an ornament, it reflects Saguna devotion where the devotee’s mind is attracted by auspicious, perceivable forms and signs; similarly, in Linga worship the mind is gathered through a tangible sacred symbol that leads inward to Shiva’s supreme reality.
A practical takeaway is dhyāna through auspicious symbols—fixing attention on a sacred form or consecrated object during pūjā while repeating Shiva’s mantra (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) so the mind becomes steadily absorbed in devotion.