Shloka 35
Yatinātha-līlā: Śiva’s Test of the Bhilla Devotees at Arbuda Mountain
यतिनाथाह्वयस्सोपि हंसरूपोऽभवच्छिवः । विवाहं कारयामास दमयन्त्या नलेन वै
yatināthāhvayassopi haṃsarūpo'bhavacchivaḥ | vivāhaṃ kārayāmāsa damayantyā nalena vai
‘యతినాథ’ అనే పేరుతో ప్రసిద్ధుడైన వాడు నిజానికి స్వయంగా శివుడే; ఆయన హంసరూపం ధరించాడు. నిజంగా ఆయన దమయంతీకి నలునితో వివాహం జరిపించాడు.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Sthala Purana: Śiva, as Yatinātha/Haṃsa, intervenes to unite Nala and Damayantī—an act framed as divine guidance and grace rather than a local liṅga-manifestation.
Significance: Hearing/remembering Śiva’s compassionate intervention is presented as merit-producing and dharma-supporting (marital harmony, auspicious union).
Role: teaching
FAQs
It shows Pati (Śiva) freely taking a saguna form to guide beings and uphold dharma—His grace operates within worldly events to lead souls toward auspiciousness and right order.
Although Śiva is ultimately beyond form, this episode highlights His saguna accessibility—just as devotees worship the Linga as a gracious, approachable support for devotion, Śiva here becomes perceptible (as a swan) to accomplish a beneficent purpose.
Contemplate Śiva’s anugraha (grace) while japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—remembering that He can assume any form to guide the devotee toward dharma and auspicious outcomes.