Kūrma Supports Mandara; Hālahala Appears; Śiva Becomes Nīlakaṇṭha
विलोक्य तं देववरं त्रिलोक्या भवाय देव्याभिमतं मुनीनाम् । आसीनमद्रावपवर्गहेतो- स्तपो जुषाणं स्तुतिभि: प्रणेमु: ॥ २० ॥
vilokya taṁ deva-varaṁ tri-lokyā bhavāya devyābhimataṁ munīnām āsīnam adrāv apavarga-hetos tapo juṣāṇaṁ stutibhiḥ praṇemuḥ
Para dewa memandang Dewa agung Mahādeva duduk di puncak Gunung Kailāsa bersama Bhavānī, demi kesejahteraan tiga dunia. Para resi yang mendambakan mokṣa memuja beliau; para dewa pun bersujud hormat sambil melantunkan pujian suci.
Because they recognize Śiva as the exalted deva revered across the three worlds, dear to sages and Devī, and they approach him with stuti and pranāma while he is engaged in tapasya for liberation.
'Apavarga-hetoḥ' means “for the purpose of liberation (mokṣa),” indicating that Lord Śiva is absorbed in austerity aimed at spiritual freedom.
It teaches respectful approach to saintly and divine personalities—seeking shelter with humility, offering sincere prayers, and valuing tapasya (disciplined spiritual practice) as a path toward inner freedom.