Shloka 36
देवस्तुतिः (Devastuti) — Hymn/Praise of the Devas
शैलानां गिरिजातातः कामधुक्त्वं च गोषु ह । क्षीरोदधिस्तु सिन्धूनां धातूनां हाटको भवान्
śailānāṃ girijātātaḥ kāmadhuktvaṃ ca goṣu ha | kṣīrodadhistu sindhūnāṃ dhātūnāṃ hāṭako bhavān
हे गिरिजातात! शैलानां मध्ये त्वं हिमवानिव शैलजः; गोषु कामधेनुरिव कामधुक्; सिन्धूनां मध्ये क्षीरोदधिरिव; धातूनां मध्ये हाटकं शुद्धं त्वमेव। सर्ववर्गेषु त्वं श्रेष्ठतमः शिवः।
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Purāṇic dialogue to the sages, conveying a hymn of praise to Śiva)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Sthala Purana: By invoking 'Girijātāta' (father of Girijā), the verse gestures to the Himālaya–Pārvatī–Śiva mythic complex (marriage and divine household), but does not narrate a Jyotirliṅga origin.
Significance: Encourages bhakti through recognizing Śiva as the giver of all fulfillments (kāmadhenu motif) while remaining the supreme beyond all categories.
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: nurturing
Offering: naivedya
Cosmic Event: Kṣīrodadhi allusion evokes the Devas–Asuras cosmic ocean motif (samudra-manthana background), though not explicitly narrated here.
FAQs
It teaches a bhakti-vision where Śiva is recognized as the supreme excellence (śreṣṭhatama) in every realm—nature, beings, and substances—guiding the devotee to single-pointed devotion to Pati (Śiva) as the gracious source of all fulfillment.
By praising Śiva through concrete superlatives (Kāmadhenu, Kṣīroda, gold), the verse supports Saguna-upāsanā—approaching the formless Supreme through auspicious attributes—commonly centered in Linga worship as the accessible, grace-bestowing form.
Use this as a stotra for japa and contemplation: recite with “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” mentally offering the ‘best of all’ to Śiva in pūjā; it pairs naturally with Mahāśivarātri devotion, Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) wearing, and Rudrākṣa-supported mantra practice.