Shloka 8

Adhyaya 22 — शिवानुग्रहः, ब्रह्मतपः, एकादशरुद्राः तथा प्राणतत्त्वम्

Devanagari script

प्रीतो ऽहमनया भक्त्या शाश्वताक्षरयुक्तया भवन्तौ हृदयस्यास्य मम हृद्यतरावुभौ

Transliteration

prīto 'hamanayā bhaktyā śāśvatākṣarayuktayā bhavantau hṛdayasyāsya mama hṛdyatarāvubhau

Translation

శాశ్వత అక్షరంతో యుక్తమైన ఈ భక్తితో నేను పరమంగా ప్రీతుడను. మీరు ఇద్దరూ నా హృదయపు హృదయం—నాకు అత్యంత ప్రియులు.

Word by Word

• prītaḥ: pleased, gratified

• aham: I

• anayā: by this

• bhaktyā: devotion

• śāśvata: eternal

• akṣara: imperishable syllable (Akṣara/Pranava)

• yuktayā: endowed with, joined to

• bhavantau: you two

• hṛdayasya: of the heart

• asya: of this

• mama: my

• hṛdyatarau: dearer, most beloved

• ubhau: both

Speaker

Shiva (within Suta’s narration)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It frames Linga-bhakti as effective when united with the eternal Akṣara (often understood as Praṇava/Om), showing that mantra-grounded devotion draws Shiva’s direct grace.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Shiva appears as Pati (the Lord) who responds to sincere bhakti and reveals intimate nearness—his grace is not mechanical but relational, rooted in the imperishable spiritual principle (Akṣara).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Mantra-yukta bhakti—devotion conjoined with Akṣara-japa (Praṇava/Om) as a Shaiva practice aligned with Pāśupata discipline and inner recollection of Pati.