Shloka 18

ग्रहसंख्यावर्णनम् — ध्रुवस्य तपोबलात् ध्रुवस्थानप्राप्तिः

Devanagari script

आराध्य जगतामीशं केशवं क्लेशनाशनम् दक्षिणाङ्गभवं शंभोर् महादेवस्य धीमतः

Transliteration

ārādhya jagatāmīśaṃ keśavaṃ kleśanāśanam dakṣiṇāṅgabhavaṃ śaṃbhor mahādevasya dhīmataḥ

Translation

ജഗദീശനും ക്ലേശനാശകനുമായ കേശവനെ ആരാധിച്ച്—ശംഭുവിന്റെ ദക്ഷിണാംഗമായി അവതരിച്ചവനെ—ആ ധീമാൻ മഹാദേവൻ അനുഗ്രഹം നൽകുന്നു।

Word by Word

• ārādhya: having worshipped

• jagatām-īśam: the Lord of the worlds

• keśavam: Keśava (Viṣṇu)

• kleśa-nāśanam: the destroyer of suffering/afflictions

• dakṣiṇa-aṅga-bhavam: arisen as the right-side limb

• śaṃbhoḥ: of Śambhu (Śiva)

• mahādevasya: of Mahādeva

• dhīmataḥ: of the wise one / the discerning Lord

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purāṇic account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-oriented devotion as inclusive of Hari-Hara unity: worship of Keśava is presented as harmonized within Śiva’s own being (dakṣiṇāṅga), supporting non-dual reverence while keeping Śiva as Pati (the supreme Lord).

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

Śiva-tattva is shown as all-encompassing and integrative: Śambhu is the ground in which even Keśava is expressed as an aṅga (limb), indicating Śiva’s sovereignty over cosmic functions while granting kleśa-nāśa (removal of bondage-born afflictions) to the paśu.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The key practice is ārādhana (devotional worship) aimed at kleśa-kṣaya: a Pāśupata-leaning orientation where the paśu approaches Pati through worship to dissolve kleśas (pāśa-related afflictions), preparing for Śiva’s anugraha (grace).