Shloka 12
विष्णोर्दर्शनं स्तुतिश्च
Viṣṇu’s Manifestation and Brahmā’s Hymn
हरिरुवाच । विधे ब्रह्मन् महाप्राज्ञ धन्यस्त्वं लोककारक । किमर्थं स्मरणं मेऽद्य कृतं च क्रियते नुतिः
hariruvāca | vidhe brahman mahāprājña dhanyastvaṃ lokakāraka | kimarthaṃ smaraṇaṃ me'dya kṛtaṃ ca kriyate nutiḥ
ഹരി പറഞ്ഞു— “ഹേ വിധാതാ ബ്രഹ്മൻ, മഹാപ്രാജ്ഞ! നീ ധന്യൻ, ലോകങ്ങളുടെ സ്രഷ്ടാവും ഉപകാരകനും. ഇന്ന് നീ എന്നെ എന്തിന് സ്മരിച്ചു? ഏതു ലക്ഷ്യത്താൽ ഈ സ്തുതി നടത്തുന്നു?”
Lord Vishnu (Hari)
Tattva Level: pashu
Sthala Purana: Not a jyotirliṅga narrative; it is a courteous inquiry that frames the deva’s role as responsive to remembrance (smaraṇa) and praise (nuti).
Significance: Teaches proper approach: remembrance and praise precede petition; cultivates humility and clarity of intention in prayer.
Type: stotra
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
The verse highlights discernment in devotion: even praise and remembrance should have right intention. In a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, true spiritual progress comes when actions (like stuti) are aligned with dharma and directed toward realization of Pati (the Supreme Lord) rather than mere formality.
Though the verse is spoken by Hari to Brahmā, it frames a key Purāṇic principle used throughout the Shiva Purana: worship and praise must be purposeful and sincere. This same principle applies to Saguna Shiva worship through the Linga—ritual (pūjā, stotra) gains power when performed with clear intent and devotion.
The takeaway is intentionality in practice: perform japa (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) or stotra with a defined sankalpa (spiritual resolve), not as empty recitation.