Shloka 61
Aśvatthāmā’s Stuti of Rudra and Śiva’s Empowerment (सौप्तिकपर्व, अध्याय ७)
तमूर्ध्वबाहुं निश्चेष्टं दृष्टया हविरुपस्थितम् । अब्रवीद् भगवान् साक्षान्महादेवो हसन्निव
tam ūrdhvabāhuṁ niśceṣṭaṁ dṛṣṭvā havir upasthitam | abravīd bhagavān sākṣān mahādevo hasann iva ||
ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਹਵਿਸ਼੍ਯ-ਰੂਪ ਵਿੱਚ ਦੋਵੇਂ ਬਾਂਹਾਂ ਉੱਪਰ ਚੁੱਕੇ ਨਿਸ਼ਚੇਸ਼ਟ ਬੈਠਿਆ ਵੇਖ ਕੇ, ਸਾਕਸ਼ਾਤ ਭਗਵਾਨ ਮਹਾਦੇਵ ਜਿਵੇਂ ਹੌਲੀ ਹੱਸਦੇ ਹੋਏ ਬੋਲੇ—॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames helpless surrender in ritual terms: a person becomes like an oblation (havis), and the divine responds directly. It hints that even in the aftermath of violent, ethically fraught actions, humility and recognition of one’s powerlessness can open the way for guidance—though it does not erase prior wrongdoing.
Sañjaya narrates that Mahādeva (Śiva) sees a figure seated motionless with raised arms, resembling an offering presented in sacrifice, and Śiva then addresses him, appearing to smile as he speaks.