Shloka 17
दक्षयज्ञोत्तरवृत्तान्तः
Post–Dakṣa-Yajña Developments and the Appeal to Viṣṇu
अयमेव महोपायस्तच्छांत्यै केवलं विधे । शंभोस्संतुष्टये मन्ये सत्यमेवोदितं मया
ayameva mahopāyastacchāṃtyai kevalaṃ vidhe | śaṃbhossaṃtuṣṭaye manye satyamevoditaṃ mayā
विधे, तच्छान्त्यै एष एव महोपायः केवलः; शम्भोः संतुष्टये इति मन्ये—मया यदुक्तं तत् सत्यमेव।
A narrator/counsellor within the Satī Khaṇḍa addressing Brahmā (Vidhe), as relayed by Sūta Gosvāmin
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Defines the ‘great means’ (mahopāya) as Śiva-santoṣa—i.e., turning toward the Lord so that grace descends; mirrors Siddhānta’s insistence that anugraha is the decisive liberating factor.
Type: stotra
Offering: dhupa
FAQs
It asserts a core Shaiva Siddhanta principle: true śānti (pacification of suffering and disorder) is ultimately secured by Śiva’s grace (prasāda), and the highest “means” is whatever brings about Śambhu’s satisfaction.
Śambhu’s “santuṣṭi” is traditionally sought through saguna upāsanā—Linga worship, mantra-japa, and offerings—because these are concrete, scripturally approved ways to align the devotee with Śiva and invite his grace that grants peace.
The verse points to Śiva-santuṣṭi as the practical takeaway—commonly done through Panchākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), Linga-abhisheka, and Shaiva marks like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa, performed with devotion for pacification.