Shloka 44
Viśvānara-Gṛhapati Upākhyāna — Śivasya Agni-gṛhe Avatāraḥ
The Account of Viśvānara Gṛhapati and Śiva’s Descent into the House of Fire
रज्जो सर्पश्शुक्तिकायां च रौप्यं नैरः पूरस्तन्मृगाख्ये मरीचौ । यद्यत्सद्वद्विष्वगेव प्रपञ्चो यस्मिञ्ज्ञाते तम्प्रपद्ये महेशम्
rajjo sarpaśśuktikāyāṃ ca raupyaṃ nairaḥ pūrastanmṛgākhye marīcau | yadyatsadvadviṣvageva prapañco yasmiñjñāte tamprapadye maheśam
縄を蛇と誤り、真珠母を銀と誤り、蜃気楼を水と誤り、空中の城を実在と誤るように、この多様なる世界もまた、至る所で真実であるかのごとく現れる。真の智によってこの迷妄が知られ、溶け去るようにされる方—そのマヘーシャ（マハーデーヴァ）に、我は帰依する。
Suta Goswami (narrating Shaiva philosophical teaching to the sages of Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Type: stotra
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches that the world’s apparent solidity is like a misperception (rope-snake, shell-silver); liberation comes by knowing Maheśa as the Pati (Supreme Lord) whose knowledge removes this भ्रम and reveals the true reality.
Linga-worship trains the mind to move from outer appearances to the inner Reality—Śiva as the substratum of all names and forms—so that devotion (bhakti) matures into clear knowledge (jñāna) of Maheśa beyond mere worldly projection.
Meditate on Śiva as the underlying truth while repeating the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), using vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and steady japa to cut misperception and rest in surrender to Maheśa.