Shloka 2

श्वेतमुनिना कालस्य निग्रहः (मृत्युञ्जय-भक्ति-प्रसादः)

Devanagari script

पितामह उवाच श्वेतो नाम मुनिः श्रीमान् गतायुर्गिरिगह्वरे सक्तो ह्यभ्यर्च्य यद्भक्त्या तुष्टाव च महेश्वरम्

Transliteration

pitāmaha uvāca śveto nāma muniḥ śrīmān gatāyurgirigahvare sakto hyabhyarcya yadbhaktyā tuṣṭāva ca maheśvaram

Translation

പിതാമഹൻ (ബ്രഹ്മാവ്) പറഞ്ഞു—ശ്വേതൻ എന്നൊരു ശ്രീമാൻ മുനി ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു; വാർദ്ധക്യത്തിലെത്തി പർവ്വതഗുഹയിൽ ലീനനായി വസിച്ചു. ഭക്തിയോടെ അഭ്യർചിച്ച് മഹേശ്വരനെ സ്തുതിച്ചു, അവനെ പ്രസന്നനാക്കി.

Word by Word

• पितामहः: Pitāmaha (Brahmā, the Grandfather)

• उवाच: said

• श्वेतः: Śveta

• नाम: named

• मुनिः: sage

• श्रीमान्: illustrious, blessed with splendour

• गतायुḥ: advanced in age, having lived long

• गिरिगह्वरे: in a mountain cave/cleft

• सक्तः: attached, absorbed

• हि: indeed

• अभ्यर्च्य: having worshipped (with reverence)

• यद्भक्त्या: with that devotion/through whose devotion

• तुष्टाव: he praised, extolled

• च: and

• महेश्वरम्: Maheśvara (Śiva, the Supreme Lord).

Speaker

Pitāmaha (Brahmā)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It establishes that sincere abhyarcana (reverential worship) and stuti (praise) performed with bhakti can directly please Maheśvara—showing devotion as a core engine of Linga-pūjā’s efficacy.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Śiva is presented as Maheśvara—the supreme Pati (Lord) who responds to devotion; the verse highlights His grace-bestowing sovereignty, pleased by inner dedication rather than mere external form.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A tapas-infused devotional discipline: secluded cave-dwelling (girigahvara-vāsa), sustained worship (abhyarcana), and hymn-like praise (stuti)—a bhakti-forward expression aligned with Pāśupata orientation.