Shloka 22
वीरभद्रक्रोधशमनं देवस्तुतिश्च
Pacification of Vīrabhadra and the Gods’ Hymn
चंद्रो ऽगदो हि देवेश कृपातस्तव शंकर । निमज्जनान्मृतः प्राप सुखं मिहिरजाजलिः
caṃdro 'gado hi deveśa kṛpātastava śaṃkara | nimajjanānmṛtaḥ prāpa sukhaṃ mihirajājaliḥ
O Lord of the gods, O Śaṅkara—by Your compassion the Moon became free from affliction. And Mihirajājali too, having died by drowning, attained a blessed state, happiness, through Your grace.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya discourse to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Vaidyanatha
Jyotirlinga: Somanātha
Sthala Purana: Candra, afflicted (traditionally by kṣaya/curse), attains relief through Śiva’s compassion; this verse echoes the Somnātha motif of the Moon’s restoration by Śiva’s grace.
Significance: Worship is associated with relief from afflictions, restoration of vitality, and assurance of Śiva’s saving grace (anugraha).
Role: liberating
FAQs
It highlights Śiva as Pati (the liberating Lord) whose compassion removes affliction (as with the Moon) and can grant a higher, blessed state even to one who dies in distress—showing grace as central to Shaiva liberation.
The verse praises Śaṅkara’s personal, responsive compassion—an emphasis of Saguna worship—where devotees approach the Lord (often through the Liṅga) seeking relief from suffering and ultimately spiritual uplift.
Cultivate śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) through daily Shiva-nāma japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and worship with purity (bhasma/tripuṇḍra and rudrākṣa where applicable) as a discipline of remembrance of Śiva’s grace.