Śiva–Arjuna Yuddha and the Subjugation of Pride (Śiva-parīkṣā)
शिवोपि च तथाभूतञ्ज्ञात्वा पाण्डवमर्जुनम् । निजभक्तवरं स्वामी महातुष्टो बभूव ह
śivopi ca tathābhūtañjñātvā pāṇḍavamarjunam | nijabhaktavaraṃ svāmī mahātuṣṭo babhūva ha
シヴァもまた、パーンダヴァのアルジュナがかくも稀有なる者であると見定め、彼を自らの最上の帰依者と知り給うた。かの主宰にして大いなる主は、甚だしく歓喜された。
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Role: liberating
It highlights that Shiva’s grace arises when He recognizes unwavering devotion; the Lord acknowledges the devotee’s inner sincerity and responds with divine pleasure, indicating the Shaiva path where bhakti draws the Pati’s compassionate favor toward the jīva.
The verse presents Saguna Shiva as a personal Lord who perceives and confirms a devotee’s bhakti; Linga-worship similarly trains the devotee in steadiness and surrender, culminating in Shiva’s pleased bestowal of protection and spiritual upliftment.
Steady bhakti expressed through japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined worship—such as offering with purity, and contemplative remembrance of Shiva—aligns the mind so that grace (anugraha) becomes accessible.