Shloka 21
Sunartaka-Naṭa Avatāra and Pārvatī’s Boon-Request (Śiva as the Testing Benefactor)
तन्द्रष्टुं नागरास्सर्वे पुरुषाश्च स्त्रियस्तथा । आजग्मुस्सहसा तत्र बाला वृद्धा अपि ध्रुवम्
tandraṣṭuṃ nāgarāssarve puruṣāśca striyastathā | ājagmussahasā tatra bālā vṛddhā api dhruvam
അവനെ ദർശിക്കാനായി നഗരത്തിലെ എല്ലാവരും—പുരുഷന്മാരും സ്ത്രീകളും—പെട്ടെന്ന് അവിടെ എത്തിച്ചേർന്നു; കുട്ടികളും വൃദ്ധരും തീർച്ചയായും വന്നു।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Naṭarāja
Significance: Darśana of Śiva—even when his majesty is veiled—draws all classes of beings; the verse models pilgrimage as spontaneous attraction (ākarṣaṇa) toward the Lord’s presence.
FAQs
It highlights the universal pull of Shiva-darshan: when the Lord manifests (Saguna grace), devotion arises spontaneously across age and gender, showing bhakti as an accessible path toward purification and liberation.
The verse emphasizes “seeing” (darshan) the manifested Lord—an essential aspect of Saguna worship, akin to approaching the Shiva-Linga or a visible form of Shiva with longing, reverence, and immediacy.
A practical takeaway is to seek Shiva-darshan through temple worship of the Linga, repeating the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with focused intent, especially in congregational settings that strengthen bhakti.