Shloka 41
ज्योतिर्लिङ्गमाहात्म्य-प्रस्तावना तथा सोमनाथ-प्रसङ्गः
Prologue to the Glory and Origin of the Jyotirliṅgas; Somnātha Episode Begins
तं दृष्ट्वा शंकरो देवः प्रसन्नोऽभूत्ततः प्रभुः । आविर्भूय विधुं प्राह स्वभक्तं भक्तवत्सलः
taṃ dṛṣṭvā śaṃkaro devaḥ prasanno'bhūttataḥ prabhuḥ | āvirbhūya vidhuṃ prāha svabhaktaṃ bhaktavatsalaḥ
അവനെ കണ്ടപ്പോൾ ദേവാധിദേവൻ ശങ്കരൻ പ്രസന്നനായി. പിന്നെ ഭക്തവത്സലനായ പ്രഭു പ്രത്യക്ഷനായി തന്റെ ഭക്തനായ വിധുവിനോട് അരുളിച്ചെയ്തു।
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Jyotirlinga: Somanātha
Sthala Purana: Śiva, pleased by Chandra’s steadfast upāsanā, manifests (āvirbhūya) at Prabhāsa and addresses him—this divine epiphany grounds Somnātha’s fame as a kṣetra of direct grace and restoration.
Significance: Promises bhakta-vātsalya: devotees seek tangible reassurance, removal of fear, and compassionate response to sincere sādhana at Somnātha.
Role: liberating
FAQs
It highlights Śiva’s anugraha (grace): when sincere devotion ripens, the Lord becomes prasanna (pleased) and personally reveals Himself, affirming that bhakti is a direct means to divine communion and liberation.
Though Śiva is ultimately beyond form (nirguṇa), this verse emphasizes His saguna compassion—He ‘appears’ (āvirbhūya) for the devotee. Linga-worship trains the mind in steady reverence so that the formless Lord is approached through a sacred, accessible form.
The takeaway is steadfast bhakti: daily Linga-pūjā with Panchākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), along with purity and humility, as the inner disposition that invites Śiva’s grace and guidance.