Shloka 4
Yatinātha-līlā: Śiva’s Test of the Bhilla Devotees at Arbuda Mountain
कस्मिंश्चित्समये भिल्लः शिवभक्तिरतः सदा । आहारार्थं स्वपत्न्याश्च सुदूरं स गतो मुने
kasmiṃścitsamaye bhillaḥ śivabhaktirataḥ sadā | āhārārthaṃ svapatnyāśca sudūraṃ sa gato mune
Pada suatu ketika, wahai resi, orang Bhilla itu—sentiasa tekun berbhakti kepada Śiva—telah pergi jauh untuk mencari makanan bagi dirinya dan isterinya.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Sthala Purana: Narrative movement: the devotee goes far to procure food—often a prelude in Purāṇic stories to a test, separation, or concealed divine play (tirodhāna) that culminates in grace.
Significance: Frames bhakti amid livelihood duties; emphasizes that devotion persists even while fulfilling basic needs—an implicit teaching for householders.
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It introduces a key Shaiva theme: birth or social status is not the measure of spiritual worth—steadfast bhakti to Pati (Śiva) sanctifies even a simple householder’s duties like earning food.
By highlighting a devotee “always engaged in Śiva-bhakti,” the text points to Saguna devotion—loving remembrance and service to Lord Śiva—which commonly culminates in acts like Linga-pūjā and mantra-japa in the larger narrative context.
The implied practice is constant remembrance (smaraṇa) and japa—especially the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—performed alongside daily responsibilities, embodying devotion integrated with life.