Shloka 10

मदनदाहः — पार्वतीतपः, स्वयंवरलीला, देवस्तम्भनं, दिव्यचक्षुर्दानम्

Devanagari script

सा च दृष्ट्वा महादेवं द्विजरूपेण संस्थितम् प्रतिभाद्यैः प्रभुं ज्ञात्वा ननाम वृषभध्वजम्

Transliteration

sā ca dṛṣṭvā mahādevaṃ dvijarūpeṇa saṃsthitam pratibhādyaiḥ prabhuṃ jñātvā nanāma vṛṣabhadhvajam

Translation

Dia melihat Mahādeva berdiri dalam rupa dwija (Brahmin); melalui tanda intuisi batin, dia mengenali Sang Prabhu lalu bersujud kepada Vṛṣabhadhvaja—Śiva yang panjinya bergambar lembu.

Word by Word

• सा (sā): she

• च (ca): and

• दृष्ट्वा (dṛṣṭvā): having seen

• महादेवं (mahādevam): Mahādeva (the Great God, Śiva)

• द्विज-रूपेण (dvija-rūpeṇa): in the form of a twice-born/brāhmaṇa

• संस्थितम् (saṃsthitam): standing/abiding, situated

• प्रतिभा-आद्यैः (pratibhādyaiḥ): by intuition and related inner indications (insight, signs)

• प्रभुम् (prabhum): the Lord, Pati (sovereign)

• ज्ञात्वा (jñātvā): having known/recognized

• ननाम (nanāma): bowed, paid obeisance

• वृषभ-ध्वजम् (vṛṣabha-dhvajam): the One with the bull as his emblem (Śiva).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Mahadeva, Vrsabhadhvaja)

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It shows that true Shiva-bhakti is not limited to outward appearances: the devotee recognizes Pati (Śiva) even when he is concealed, and responds with namaskāra—the foundational act that precedes all linga-pūjā and surrender.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Śiva-tattva is presented as transcendent and free: the Lord can assume any form (here, a dvija), yet remains Vṛṣabhadhvaja, the sovereign Pati who is known by inner realization (pratibhā) rather than mere sensory perception.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse highlights namaskāra (prostration/obeisance) grounded in inner recognition (pratibhā), aligning with Pāśupata orientation where grace-awakened discernment leads the paśu (soul) to surrender to Pati.