Shloka 7
Droṇācārya’s Tapas and the Manifestation of Śiva: The Birth-Grant of Aśvatthāmā (अश्वत्थामा-अवतार-प्रसङ्गः)
ततः प्रसन्नो भगवाच्छंकरो भक्तवत्सलः । आविर्बभूव पुरतो द्रोणस्य मुनिसत्तम
tataḥ prasanno bhagavācchaṃkaro bhaktavatsalaḥ | āvirbabhūva purato droṇasya munisattama
Then the Blessed Lord Śaṅkara, ever tender to His devotees, became pleased and manifested Himself directly before Droṇa, O best of sages.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: General purāṇic motif: Śiva grants sākṣāt-darśana to a tapasvin when pleased (prasanna), initiating boon-bestowal.
Significance: Paradigm of darśana as anugraha: the devotee’s inner ripening culminates in direct encounter with Pati.
Type: stotra
Role: liberating
FAQs
It highlights Śiva’s anugraha (grace): when devotion ripens, the Lord becomes “prasanna” and grants direct darśana, showing that liberation is ultimately secured by the compassionate response of Pati (Śiva) to the sincere pashu (devotee).
Though Śiva is beyond form, He is also Saguna for the devotee’s sake; this verse reflects that the same Lord worshipped as the Liṅga can also personally manifest, confirming the Shiva Purana theme that form-worship culminates in living experience of the Lord’s presence.
A clear takeaway is steady bhakti with japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—and daily Śiva-pūjā (optionally with bhasma/tripuṇḍra and rudrākṣa), performed with humility until the heart becomes fit for Śiva’s grace.