Shloka 38
Śiva-nāma-smaraṇa and Śambhu’s Protective Manifestation
Dāruka Episode
ततस्त्वं तत्र गत्वा च विवरे च कृते मया । प्रविश्य च तदा पूजां कृत्वा नागेश्वरस्य च
tatastvaṃ tatra gatvā ca vivare ca kṛte mayā | praviśya ca tadā pūjāṃ kṛtvā nāgeśvarasya ca
“പിന്നീട് നീ അവിടെ പോകുക; ഞാൻ ഉണ്ടാക്കിയ തുറവ് സജ്ജമായാൽ അതിൽ പ്രവേശിച്ച്, അപ്പോൾ നാഗേശ്വരൻ (ശിവൻ) നെയും പൂജിക്ക.”
Suta Goswami (narrating the Kotirudra Samhita account of Nāgeśvara Jyotirliṅga worship to the sages)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Nāṭarāja
Jyotirlinga: Nāgeśvara
Sthala Purana: Śiva creates an opening and directs the devotee to enter and worship Nāgeśvara—framing Nāgeśvara as a revealed sacred presence accessible by Śiva’s own intervention and the devotee’s obedience and pūjā.
Significance: Worship of Nāgeśvara grants protection from poisons/fears (nāga symbolism), removes bondage, and bestows Śiva’s grace; emphasizes darśana obtained through devotion and right ritual.
Type: stotra
Offering: dhupa
FAQs
The verse emphasizes obedient entry into a sanctified space and the performance of pūjā to Nāgeśvara, highlighting that devotion expressed through proper approach and worship to Saguna Śiva (the Jyotirliṅga) becomes a means of grace and inner purification.
By explicitly instructing “pūjāṃ kṛtvā nāgeśvarasya,” it frames Nāgeśvara as an accessible, worshipful manifestation of Śiva (Saguna), where entering the shrine/inner area and offering worship to the Liṅga is presented as the direct devotional act.
It suggests entering the designated sacred precinct and performing Liṅga-pūjā—offerings with reverence, purity, and focused mind; practitioners may accompany it with japa of Śiva’s names (especially the pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) as part of the worship.