Shloka 23
ज्योतिर्लिङ्गमाहात्म्य-प्रस्तावना तथा सोमनाथ-प्रसङ्गः
Prologue to the Glory and Origin of the Jyotirliṅgas; Somnātha Episode Begins
ब्रह्मापि तद्वचः श्रुत्वा विस्मयं परमं ययौ । शिवमायां सुप्रशस्य श्रावयंस्तानुवाच ह
brahmāpi tadvacaḥ śrutvā vismayaṃ paramaṃ yayau | śivamāyāṃ supraśasya śrāvayaṃstānuvāca ha
เมื่อพรหมได้ยินถ้อยคำนั้น ก็เกิดความพิศวงยิ่งนัก ครั้นสรรเสริญมายาอันน่าอัศจรรย์ของพระศิวะแล้ว จึงกล่าวแก่พวกเขาให้ตั้งใจสดับฟัง
Brahma
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: No Jyotirliṅga; the verse foregrounds ‘Śiva-māyā’—Śiva’s sovereign power that astonishes even Brahmā—setting a doctrinal tone for later resolution.
Significance: Contemplation of Śiva’s māyā cultivates humility and reliance on grace; recognizes that cosmic administrators operate within Śiva’s overarching śakti.
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: teaching
Cosmic Event: Recognition of Śiva’s māyā as the governing principle behind extraordinary events affecting devas and worlds.
FAQs
It highlights that even Brahmā becomes awestruck before Śiva’s supreme power (Śiva-māyā), pointing to Śiva as Pati—the transcendent Lord whose reality surpasses ordinary comprehension and invites reverent listening (śravaṇa) and devotion.
By praising Śiva’s māyā, the verse supports Saguna devotion: the Lord’s manifesting power makes His accessible forms—such as the Jyotirliṅga—possible, so devotees can approach the transcendent through sacred, worship-worthy manifestations.
The immediate takeaway is śravaṇa and mananā—listening attentively to Śiva-kathā with reverence; in practice, this pairs well with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) before or after Liṅga-pūjā.