Shloka 47
ऋषभचरित्रवर्णनम् (Ṛṣabha-caritra-varṇanam) — “Account of Ṛṣabha’s Sacred Narrative”
इत्थं प्रभावं ऋषभोऽवतारः शङ्करस्य मे । सतां गतिर्दीनबन्धुर्नवमः कथितस्तव
itthaṃ prabhāvaṃ ṛṣabho'vatāraḥ śaṅkarasya me | satāṃ gatirdīnabandhurnavamaḥ kathitastava
Thus, I have described to you the majestic power of Śaṅkara’s incarnation as Ṛṣabha—he who is the refuge of the virtuous and the compassionate friend of the distressed—declared as the ninth (incarnation).
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: This is an avatāra-summary (Ṛṣabha as the ninth incarnation) emphasizing Śiva’s compassionate descent for the protection of sat (the virtuous) and uplift of the dīna (distressed).
Significance: Hearing/remembering Śiva’s avatāras is framed as a means to approach satāṃ gati (the goal/refuge of the good), i.e., turning the paśu toward the Pati through grace.
Type: stotra
Role: liberating
FAQs
The verse presents Shiva’s avatāra as a manifestation of compassionate grace: the Lord becomes the refuge (gati) of the virtuous and the protector of the distressed, emphasizing that liberation and protection arise from Shiva’s benevolent, accessible Saguna presence.
By praising an avatāra with specific qualities—refuge of devotees and helper of the suffering—the verse supports Saguna Shiva devotion, which is commonly centered on Linga worship as a tangible focus for surrender, prayer, and receiving Shiva’s anugraha (grace).
A practical takeaway is to approach Shiva with śaraṇāgati (surrender) through Panchakshara japa—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and simple devotion (bhakti), seeking the Lord as one’s gati (refuge), especially in times of distress.