Shloka 47
ऋषभचरित्रवर्णनम् (Ṛṣabha-caritra-varṇanam) — “Account of Ṛṣabha’s Sacred Narrative”
इत्थं प्रभावं ऋषभोऽवतारः शङ्करस्य मे । सतां गतिर्दीनबन्धुर्नवमः कथितस्तव
itthaṃ prabhāvaṃ ṛṣabho'vatāraḥ śaṅkarasya me | satāṃ gatirdīnabandhurnavamaḥ kathitastava
Demikianlah telah aku jelaskan kepadamu keagungan kuasa penjelmaan Śaṅkara sebagai Ṛṣabha—tempat berlindung orang-orang saleh dan sahabat penuh belas bagi yang menderita—yang dinyatakan sebagai penjelmaan kesembilan.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
FAQs
The verse presents Shiva’s avatāra as a manifestation of compassionate grace: the Lord becomes the refuge (gati) of the virtuous and the protector of the distressed, emphasizing that liberation and protection arise from Shiva’s benevolent, accessible Saguna presence.
By praising an avatāra with specific qualities—refuge of devotees and helper of the suffering—the verse supports Saguna Shiva devotion, which is commonly centered on Linga worship as a tangible focus for surrender, prayer, and receiving Shiva’s anugraha (grace).
A practical takeaway is to approach Shiva with śaraṇāgati (surrender) through Panchakshara japa—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and simple devotion (bhakti), seeking the Lord as one’s gati (refuge), especially in times of distress.