Shloka 3
गौतमस्य शिवदर्शनं पापक्षयवचनं च | Gautama’s Vision of Śiva and the Teaching on Sin and Purification
तदा तत्सुंदरं रूपं दृष्ट्वा शंभोर्महात्मनः । प्रणम्य शंकरं भक्त्या स्तुतिं चक्रे मुदान्वितः
tadā tatsuṃdaraṃ rūpaṃ dṛṣṭvā śaṃbhormahātmanaḥ | praṇamya śaṃkaraṃ bhaktyā stutiṃ cakre mudānvitaḥ
అప్పుడు మహాత్ముడైన శంభువు యొక్క అత్యంత సుందర రూపాన్ని చూచి, అతడు భక్తితో శంకరునికి నమస్కరించి, ఆనందంతో నిండీ స్తుతి చేయసాగెను।
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Significance: Darśana of Śiva’s ‘sundara rūpa’ is presented as the experiential fruit of devotion; in pilgrimage idiom, this corresponds to ‘darśana-lābha’ and inner pacification.
Type: stotra
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
The verse highlights the Shaiva Siddhanta emphasis that Shiva’s grace is approached through bhakti: after darshan of Śambhu’s auspicious (saguna) form, the devotee responds with humility (praṇāma) and praise (stuti), transforming vision into devotional surrender.
Kotirudra Saṃhitā often frames pilgrimage and Jyotirliṅga devotion as ‘darshan leading to stuti.’ Here, seeing Shiva’s beautiful form represents saguna upāsanā—worship through accessible form—culminating in reverent prostration and hymns, which are also central to Liṅga worship (arcana, namaskāra, stotra).
A simple practice is indicated: take darshan (mentally or at a shrine), perform praṇāma, and recite a Shiva stotra with bhakti—optionally accompanied by japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to stabilize the joy-filled remembrance (smaraṇa) of Śaṅkara.