Shloka 32
Śiva–Arjuna Yuddha and the Subjugation of Pride (Śiva-parīkṣā)
अर्जुन उवाच । भक्तप्रियस्य शम्भोस्ते सुप्रभो किं समीहितम् । वर्णनीयं मया देव कृपालुस्त्वं सदाशिव
arjuna uvāca | bhaktapriyasya śambhoste suprabho kiṃ samīhitam | varṇanīyaṃ mayā deva kṛpālustvaṃ sadāśiva
Arjuna said: “O radiant Lord! What do You, Śambhu—so dear to Your devotees—desire? O God, tell me what I should describe or proclaim. You are compassionate, O Sadāśiva.”
Arjuna
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
FAQs
It expresses śaraṇāgati (devotional surrender): the devotee asks the bhaktapriya Śiva what He wishes, trusting Sadāśiva’s compassion to direct speech and action toward dharma and liberation.
By addressing Śambhu as personally responsive and devotee-loving, the verse supports Saguna worship—approaching Shiva as a gracious Lord who guides devotees; such guidance is commonly embodied in Linga-upāsanā, where the devotee seeks Shiva’s will through prayer and praise.
A simple bhakti practice is implied: prayerful inquiry followed by stotra/japa as instructed—especially Panchakshara japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a humble intention to speak only what pleases Shiva.