Shloka 26
Sunartaka-Naṭa Avatāra and Pārvatī’s Boon-Request (Śiva as the Testing Benefactor)
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्र गंगातो गिरिराड्ययौ । ददर्श पुरतो भिक्षुं प्रांगणस्थं नराकृतिम्
etasminnantare tatra gaṃgāto girirāḍyayau | dadarśa purato bhikṣuṃ prāṃgaṇasthaṃ narākṛtim
അതിനിടയിൽ ഗംഗയിൽ നിന്ന് പർവതരാജൻ അവിടെ എത്തി. അവൻ മുന്നിൽ പ്രാകാരത്തിൽ മനുഷ്യരൂപത്തിലുള്ള ഒരു ഭിക്ഷുവിനെ നിൽക്കുന്നതായി കണ്ടു.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Bhikṣāṭana
Sthala Purana: The scene is set by the Gaṅgā and the arrival of Himālaya; no specific Jyotirliṅga is invoked in these verses.
Significance: Gaṅgā-proximity signifies purification and readiness for divine encounter; the ‘arrival from Gaṅgā’ frames the episode as ritually auspicious.
FAQs
It highlights Shiva’s saguna play (līlā) of appearing in an ordinary human guise, teaching that the Divine may be encountered through humility and reverence toward ascetics and devotees.
Though the Linga is the prime emblem of Shiva, this verse underscores that Saguna Shiva can also manifest as a bhikshu; true worship is recognizing Shiva’s presence beyond external appearances.
A practical takeaway is seva and respectful hospitality to sadhus (atithi-pūjā), along with japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to cultivate recognition of Shiva in all beings.