Shloka 46
Kṛṣṇādi-Śivabhaktoddhāraṇa & Śiva-māhātmya-varṇana
Deliverance of Krishna and other devotees; Description of Shiva’s Greatness
ज्ञाने तपसि वा शौर्य्ये स्थैर्य्ये वा पद एव च । शृणु शंभोस्तु गोविन्द देवैश्वर्य्यं महायशाः
jñāne tapasi vā śauryye sthairyye vā pada eva ca | śṛṇu śaṃbhostu govinda devaiśvaryyaṃ mahāyaśāḥ
ज्ञानात, तपात, शौर्यात, स्थैर्यात किंवा पदप्राप्तीतही— हे महायशस्वी गोविंद, शंभूचे दिव्य ऐश्वर्य ऐक.
Lord Shiva (Śambhu), addressing Lord Vishnu (Govinda)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Frames Śiva’s aiśvarya as surpassing all excellences (jñāna, tapas, śaurya, sthairya), encouraging pilgrims/devotees to seek Śiva not merely for worldly siddhis but for the highest sovereignty culminating in liberation.
Type: stotra
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse frames all human and divine attainments—knowledge, austerity, valor, steadiness, and status—as secondary to understanding Śiva’s devaiśvarya (supreme divine sovereignty). In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, it points to Pati (Śiva) as the ultimate source and governor of all powers that liberate the bound soul (paśu) from bondage (pāśa).
By urging attentive listening to Śiva’s lordship, the verse supports śravaṇa and bhakti directed to Saguna Śiva—commonly approached through the Śiva-liṅga. The liṅga becomes the focal support for contemplating the Lord’s aiśvarya while progressing toward deeper realization of His transcendent nature.
The direct instruction is śravaṇa—listening to Śiva’s glory as a devotional discipline. Practically, this can be paired with daily liṅga-pūjā, Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) application, Rudrākṣa wearing, and japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating steadiness (sthairya) and devotion.