Arjuna’s Mantra-Empowerment and the Pāṇḍavas’ Separation (Śiva-rūpa through Mantra)
पाण्डवा ऊचुः । श्रूयतामृषभश्रेष्ठ दुःखदग्धा वयम्प्रभो । दर्शनन्तेऽद्य सम्प्राप्य ह्यानन्दं प्राप्नुमो मुने
pāṇḍavā ūcuḥ | śrūyatāmṛṣabhaśreṣṭha duḥkhadagdhā vayamprabho | darśanante'dya samprāpya hyānandaṃ prāpnumo mune
ਪਾਂਡਵ ਬੋਲੇ—ਹੇ ਰਿਸ਼ੀਆਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਸ਼੍ਰੇਸ਼ਠ, ਹੇ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ, ਸਾਡੀ ਗੱਲ ਸੁਣੋ। ਅਸੀਂ ਦੁੱਖ ਨਾਲ ਦਗਧ ਸੀ; ਅੱਜ ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਪਾਵਨ ਦਰਸ਼ਨ ਪਾ ਕੇ, ਹੇ ਮੁਨੀ, ਨਿਸ਼ਚਿਤ ਹੀ ਆਨੰਦ ਨਾਲ ਭਰ ਗਏ ਹਾਂ।
The Pāṇḍavas
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
It teaches that grief (duḥkha) is soothed and transformed through sacred darśana—meeting a realized sage who embodies Shiva’s grace—leading the devotee toward inner ānanda and steadiness on the path to liberation.
In Śaiva tradition, reverent darśana is not limited to the Liṅga alone; the saintly teacher devoted to Shiva is also approached as a living channel of Saguna Shiva’s compassion, through whom Shiva’s presence becomes immediately accessible.
Approach the guru or Shiva’s shrine with humility, offer salutations, and perform japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while contemplating that Shiva’s grace can ‘burn’ sorrow and establish calm joy.