Shloka 14
Viśvānara-Gṛhapati Upākhyāna — Śivasya Agni-gṛhe Avatāraḥ
The Account of Viśvānara Gṛhapati and Śiva’s Descent into the House of Fire
शुचिष्मत्युवाच । वरयोग्यास्मि चेन्नाथ यदि देयो वरो मम । महेशसदृशम्पुत्रन्देहि नान्यं वरं वृणे
śuciṣmatyuvāca | varayogyāsmi cennātha yadi deyo varo mama | maheśasadṛśamputrandehi nānyaṃ varaṃ vṛṇe
శుచిష్మతి పలికెను—హే నాథా! నేను వరానికి యోగ్యురాలినైతే, నాకు వరం ఇవ్వవలసినదైతే, మహేశుడు (శివుడు) సమానమైన కుమారుని నాకు ప్రసాదించండి. ఇతర వరం నేను కోరను.
Śuciṣmatī
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse centers on boon-seeking (vara) and Śiva’s grace granting an exceptional son.
Significance: General Śaiva teaching: sincere petition aligned with dharma and devotion becomes a doorway to anugraha (grace).
Role: nurturing
FAQs
The verse highlights single-pointed bhakti and the ideal of seeking Shiva-sāmya (Godlike virtue) through grace—asking not for worldly gains but for a life aligned with Maheśa’s qualities.
By desiring a son “equal to Maheśa,” the devotee approaches Shiva as Saguna (with attributes), where grace is personally bestowed; such devotion commonly expresses itself through Linga worship as the accessible form of the Supreme.
The takeaway is vow-based prayer with focused intention—supported by Shaiva practice like japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and worship of Shiva with purity (śauca) and steadfast devotion.