Shloka 33
Lord Śiva Instructs the Pracetās (Śiva-stuti and the Path of Bhakti)
श्रीरुद्र उवाच जितं त आत्मविद्वर्यस्वस्तये स्वस्तिरस्तु मे । भवताराधसा राद्धं सर्वस्मा आत्मने नम: ॥ ३३ ॥
śrī-rudra uvāca jitaṁ ta ātma-vid-varya- svastaye svastir astu me bhavatārādhasā rāddhaṁ sarvasmā ātmane namaḥ
श्रीरुद्र उवाच—जितं ते आत्मविद्वर्यस्वस्तये; स्वस्तिरस्तु मे। भवताराधसा राद्धं सर्वस्मै आत्मने नमः॥
As soon as a devotee is inspired by the Lord to offer the Lord a prayer, the devotee immediately glorifies the Lord in the beginning by saying, “All glories unto You, my Lord.” The Lord is glorified because He is considered to be the chief of all self-realized souls. As said in the Vedas ( Kaṭha Upaniṣad 2.2.13), nityo nityānāṁ cetanaś cetanānām: the Supreme Being, the Personality of Godhead, is the chief living being amongst all living beings. There are different kinds of individual living beings — some of them are in this material world, and some are in the spiritual world. Those who are in the spiritual world are known to be completely self-realized because on the spiritual platform the living entity is not forgetful of his service to the Lord. Therefore in the spiritual world all those who are in the devotional service of the Lord are eternally fixed, for they understand the position of the Supreme Being, as well as their individual constitution. Thus amongst self-realized souls, the Lord is known as the perfectly self-realized soul ( nityo nityānāṁ cetanaś cetanānām ). When the individual soul is fixed in his knowledge of the Lord as the Supreme Being, he actually becomes established in an all-auspicious position. Lord Śiva prays herein that his auspicious position continue eternally by virtue of the Lord’s mercy upon him.
FAQs
In this verse, Lord Śiva offers obeisances to the Supreme Soul described as the ātmā of everyone—indicating the Lord’s indwelling presence as the inner Self of all beings.
Lord Śiva speaks while instructing and blessing the devotees in Canto 4, Chapter 24; he honors the exalted self-realized devotee(s) present and ultimately points their worship to the Supreme Soul who is the Self of all.
Remembering the Lord as the inner witness of all helps cultivate humility, respect for others, and steadiness in devotion—turning everyday actions into worship.