Shloka 62
Viśvānara-Gṛhapati Upākhyāna — Śivasya Agni-gṛhe Avatāraḥ
The Account of Viśvānara Gṛhapati and Śiva’s Descent into the House of Fire
अभिलाषाष्टकमिदन्न देयं यस्य कस्यचित् । गोपनीयं प्रयत्नेन महावन्ध्याप्रसूतिकृत्
abhilāṣāṣṭakamidanna deyaṃ yasya kasyacit | gopanīyaṃ prayatnena mahāvandhyāprasūtikṛt
Cet « Abhilāṣāṣṭaka » ne doit pas être donné à n’importe qui. Il faut le garder avec effort et discrétion, car on dit qu’il fait naître des fruits même là où règne une grande stérilité, accordant la puissance d’aboutir là où cela semblait impossible.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Īśāna
Significance: The secrecy injunction (gopanīyam) reflects a sacral economy of transmission: potency is protected by restricting access, paralleling how certain kṣetra-mantras/stotras are traditionally given with eligibility.
Mantra: अभिलाषाष्टकमिदन्न देयं यस्य कस्यचित् । गोपनीयं प्रयत्नेन महावन्ध्याप्रसूतिकृत्
Type: stotra
FAQs
It teaches adhikāra (spiritual eligibility) and discipline: potent Shaiva hymns are to be preserved and given only to suitable devotees, because sacred sound bears transformative power when approached with reverence and restraint.
As a Saguna-Shiva practice, the hymn is treated as a living upāsanā (devotional method). Like Linga-worship done with purity and vrata, it is to be performed and transmitted carefully so its sanctity and efficacy are not diminished.
It implies protected japa/stotra-recitation—undertaken with niyama (vow-like discipline), faith, and confidentiality; ideally alongside Shaiva observances such as mantra-japa (e.g., Panchakshara), and regular worship according to one’s capacity.