Shloka 223
Śatarudrīya-prabhāva and Rudra’s Supremacy (शतरुद्रीयप्रभावः)
तत् सदो वृषभाड्कस्य भीमरूपधरं बभौ | मधुसूदन! वृषभध्वजका वह भयानक सभास्थल क्षणभरमें अद्भुत शोभा पाने लगा
tat sado vṛṣabhāṅkasya bhīmarūpadharaṃ babhau | madhusūdana! vṛṣabhadhvajakā vaha bhayānaka sabhāsthala kṣaṇabhareṃ adbhuta śobhā pāne lagā
नारद उवाच—ततः सदो वृषभाङ्कस्य भीमरूपधरं बभौ। मधुसूदन! वृषभध्वजस्य तत् सभास्थलं क्षणेनैव अद्भुतया शोभया विरराज।
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the overwhelming majesty of the divine: sacred space can suddenly transform into a vision of awe, mixing fear and wonder. It implicitly teaches reverence and humility before higher power, where splendor is not merely aesthetic but a sign of transcendent presence.
Nārada describes Śiva’s assembly-hall: it assumes a terrifying aspect and, almost instantly, becomes radiant with extraordinary beauty. The address to Madhusūdana (Kṛṣṇa) frames the description as a report to a revered listener.