Shloka 9
वैभ्राजवन-प्रसङ्गः / The Episode of Vaibhrāja and the Yogic Forest
Vibhrāja-vana
स्मृतिमंतोऽत्र चत्वारस्त्रयस्तु परिमोहिताः । स्वतन्त्रस्याह्वयो जातो ब्रह्मदत्तो महौजसः
smṛtimaṃto'tra catvārastrayastu parimohitāḥ | svatantrasyāhvayo jāto brahmadatto mahaujasaḥ
Here, four among them were mindful and clear in remembrance, while three were thoroughly deluded. From the independent one, there arose a powerful son named Brahmadatta.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Īśāna
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; the verse frames smṛti (right recollection) versus parimoha (deep delusion), a classic Siddhānta contrast between knowledge that loosens pāśa and māyic concealment.
Role: teaching
FAQs
It contrasts smṛti (lucid spiritual remembrance) with moha (delusion), implying that clarity of awareness supports the soul’s movement away from bondage (pāśa) toward Shiva’s grace, while delusion keeps beings entangled in saṃsāra.
Though not naming the Liṅga directly, the verse highlights the inner condition required for fruitful Saguna Shiva worship: steady remembrance and right understanding. In Shaiva practice, such smṛti is strengthened through Liṅga-upāsanā, mantra-japa, and devotion that dispels moha.
A practical takeaway is daily mantra-smaraṇa (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to cultivate smṛti and reduce moha, supported by simple Shaiva observances like vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) and focused japa.