Shloka 21
Arjuna’s Mantra-Empowerment and the Pāṇḍavas’ Separation (Śiva-rūpa through Mantra)
तस्माद्वर्णयितुन्नैव शक्यते हि मया पुनः । शरीरं दुःखराशिं च मत्वा त्याज्यन्त्वयाधुना
tasmādvarṇayitunnaiva śakyate hi mayā punaḥ | śarīraṃ duḥkharāśiṃ ca matvā tyājyantvayādhunā
അതുകൊണ്ട് ഞാൻ അതിനെ വീണ്ടും വിശദമായി വർണ്ണിക്കാൻ കഴിയില്ല. ശരീരത്തെ ദുഃഖത്തിന്റെ കൂമ്പാരമെന്നു കരുതി, ഇപ്പോൾ വൈരാഗ്യത്തോടെ അതിനെ ഉപേക്ഷിച്ച് മോക്ഷദായകനായ പ്രഭു ശിവന്റെ ശരണം പ്രാപിക്ക.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana to the sages of Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: General Purāṇic teaching motif: recognition of the body as duḥkha-rāśi leads to vairāgya and Śiva-śaraṇāgati; not tied here to a specific jyotirliṅga legend.
Significance: Didactic: cultivating detachment and taking refuge in Śiva is presented as the true pilgrimage (antar-yātrā) culminating in liberation.
Type: panchakshara
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: liberating
FAQs
It teaches vairāgya: seeing the body as impermanent and sorrow-prone, one should turn inward and seek Pati (Śiva) as the liberating Lord rather than clinging to the pashu-condition bound to pain.
By weakening attachment to the body, the devotee becomes fit for Saguna worship—Linga-upāsanā and devotion—through which Śiva’s grace purifies bonds (pāśa) and leads toward realization beyond form.
A practical takeaway is daily japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with contemplation on impermanence, supported by Shaiva disciplines like vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of renunciation and Śiva-refuge.