Shloka 122
Pulastya’s Tīrtha Enumeration: Sarasvatī, Naimiṣa, Gayā, and Associated Phalaśruti
Chapter 82
सृष्टा कोटीति रुद्राणामृषीणामग्रत: स्थिता । मया पूर्वतरं दृष्ट इति ते मेनिरे पृथक्,राजन! तब योगेश्वर भगवान् शिवने भी योगका आश्रय ले, उन शुद्धात्मा महर्षियोंके शोककी शान्तिके लिये करोड़ों शिवलिंगोंकी सृष्टि कर दी, जो उन सभी ऋषियोंके आगे उपस्थित थे; इससे उन सबने अलग-अलग भगवान्का दर्शन किया। राजन! उन शुद्धचेता मुनियोंकी उत्तम भक्तिसे संतुष्ट हो महादेवजीने उन्हें वर दिया
sṛṣṭā koṭīti rudrāṇām ṛṣīṇām agrataḥ sthitā | mayā pūrvataraṃ dṛṣṭa iti te menire pṛthak, rājan | tataḥ yogeśvaraḥ bhagavān śivaḥ api yogam āśritya teṣāṃ śuddhātmanāṃ maharṣīṇāṃ śokaśāntyai koṭiśaḥ śivaliṅgānāṃ sṛṣṭiṃ cakāra, ye sarveṣām ṛṣīṇām agre pratyakṣāḥ babhūvuḥ; tena te sarve pṛthak pṛthag bhagavaddarśanaṃ prāpuḥ | rājan, teṣāṃ śuddhacetasaḥ munīnām uttamabhaktyā tuṣṭaḥ mahādevaḥ tebhyo varaṃ dadau |
Ghūlastya disse: “Manifestou-se um crore de formas de Rudra, postadas diante dos sábios. Cada um pensou: ‘Eu o vi primeiro’, e assim, ó rei, cada qual sustentou sua convicção em separado. Então o Senhor Śiva, mestre do Yoga, valendo-se do poder ióguico, criou incontáveis liṅgas de Śiva para aliviar a tristeza daqueles grandes videntes de alma pura; eles apareceram diante de todos os rishis. Assim, cada um obteve uma visão distinta do Senhor. Ó rei, satisfeito com a excelente devoção daqueles ascetas de mente limpa, Mahādeva concedeu-lhes uma graça.”
घुलस्त्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage emphasizes divine compassion and inclusivity: through yogic power Śiva manifests in many forms so that each sincere sage receives a direct, personal vision, and devotion (bhakti) becomes the basis for grace (a boon) and the calming of grief.
A group of pure-minded sages, distressed, seek Śiva. Śiva manifests innumerable Rudra-forms and creates countless Śiva-liṅgas before them so that each sage feels he has seen the Lord distinctly. Pleased with their devotion, Śiva grants them a boon.