Shloka 32
Ikṣvāku-vaṃśa-prasaṅgaḥ — Genealogy of the Ikṣvāku Line and Exempla of Royal Dharma
मुखजेनाग्निना क्रोधाल्लोकान्संवर्तयन्निव । वारि सुस्राव वेगेन विधोः कधिरिवोदये
mukhajenāgninā krodhāllokānsaṃvartayanniva | vāri susrāva vegena vidhoḥ kadhirivodaye
With the fire issuing from his mouth—like one, in wrath, bringing the worlds to dissolution—water suddenly streamed forth with force, as if from the Creator at the arising of creation.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Kālāntaka
Sthala Purana: Imagery of mouth-born fire ‘as if dissolving worlds’ evokes Rudra’s saṃhāra-śakti; the sudden outflow of water juxtaposes dissolution and emergence, hinting at the Lord’s mastery over both pralaya and sṛṣṭi.
Significance: Contemplation of Śiva’s sovereignty over opposites (agni/āpas; pralaya/udaya) cultivates vairāgya and surrender.
Type: rudram
Role: destructive
Offering: null
Cosmic Event: Pralaya/saṃvarta imagery (world-dissolution simile) juxtaposed with udaya (creation-arising simile).
FAQs
The verse contrasts fiery wrath that can dissolve the cosmos with the sudden outpouring of water, implying that the Lord’s power governs both saṃhāra (dissolution) and anugraha (grace). In Shaiva Siddhanta, Pati alone wields these powers, turning even terrifying energy into a means of order and liberation.
The imagery of cosmic fire and cooling water points to Saguna Shiva’s sovereign control over elemental forces. Linga-worship often uses abhiṣeka (water libation) to honor Shiva as the one who pacifies destructive heat and grants auspiciousness, while remaining the transcendent Pati beyond the elements.
The verse naturally supports śiva-abhiṣeka with water (and cooling offerings) while repeating the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as a contemplative practice: surrendering the inner ‘fire’ of anger into Shiva and invoking his cooling grace and clarity.