Shloka 45
Śiva–Arjuna Yuddha and the Subjugation of Pride (Śiva-parīkṣā)
गुणानान्ते न संख्यास्ति यथा भूरजसामिह । आकाशे तारकाणां हि कणानां वृष्ट्यपामपि
guṇānānte na saṃkhyāsti yathā bhūrajasāmiha | ākāśe tārakāṇāṃ hi kaṇānāṃ vṛṣṭyapāmapi
ప్రభువు గుణాలకు అంతం లేదు; వాటి సంఖ్య చెప్పలేం. భూమిపై ధూళికణాలు, ఆకాశంలోని నక్షత్రాలు, వర్షంలో జలబిందువులు ఎంత అగణ్యమో అలాగే.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
FAQs
It teaches that Shiva’s divine attributes are immeasurable; recognizing their infinity humbles the ego and turns the mind toward bhakti and surrender, which Shaiva tradition holds to be a direct aid to liberation.
The verse supports Saguna worship by affirming that Shiva’s manifest qualities and forms are countless; the Linga becomes a focused, accessible symbol through which devotees contemplate that limitless greatness.
Japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while mentally enumerating Shiva’s guṇas—compassion, lordship, grace—helps stabilize devotion; offering bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) or water to the Linga can be paired with this contemplation.