इत्युक्ता शिवसद्यात्रा देवैस्सह मुनीश्वर । आकर्णय शिवयात्रां विरहोत्सवसंयुताम्
ityuktā śivasadyātrā devaissaha munīśvara | ākarṇaya śivayātrāṃ virahotsavasaṃyutām
Wahai yang terbaik di antara para resi, demikianlah telah dihuraikan ziarah suci dan bertuah Śiva, bersama para dewa. Kini dengarkan kisah ziarah Śiva—yang disertai perayaan perpisahan—melalui kerinduan kepada Tuhan, bhakti menjadi matang.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: The ‘viraha-utsava’ framing interprets the yātrā as a devotional pedagogy: separation intensifies longing and thereby prepares the soul for Śiva’s gracious self-manifestation.
Significance: Establishes viraha-bhakti as a sādhana: longing born of distance becomes a means to pierce māyā’s concealment (tirodhāna) and invite anugraha.
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: liberating
It marks a transition into the narration of Śiva’s yātrā and highlights viraha (loving separation) as a purifier of devotion—turning the mind steadily toward Pati (Śiva), the liberating Lord.
By inviting attentive hearing of Śiva’s līlā and yātrā, it supports Saguna-upāsanā—devotion to Śiva with attributes—where listening and remembrance naturally culminate in Linga-worship as the stable focus of presence.
Śravaṇa (devotional listening) and smaraṇa (remembrance) of Śiva’s acts are implied; practically, one may pair this with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while contemplating the heart’s longing as an offering.