Shloka 7
तृतीयनेत्राग्निनिवृत्तिः / Quelling the Fire of the Third Eye
Vāḍava Fire Placed in the Ocean
अथ क्रोधमयं वह्निं दग्धुकाम जगत्त्रयम् । वाडवांतकमार्षं च सौम्यज्वालामुखं मुने
atha krodhamayaṃ vahniṃ dagdhukāma jagattrayam | vāḍavāṃtakamārṣaṃ ca saumyajvālāmukhaṃ mune
แล้วแต่ท่านมุนี ไฟอันเปี่ยมด้วยพิโรธก็ปรากฏขึ้น ปรารถนาจะเผาผลาญไตรโลก—เป็นเปลวเพลิงกลืนกินสิ้น, ผู้ทำลายวาฑวาคนิ, เปลวแห่งฤๅษีที่ต้านมิได้ แต่กลับมีพักตร์อ่อนโยนสว่างไสว
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahākāla
Jyotirlinga: Mahākāleśvara
Sthala Purana: The verse’s imagery of all-consuming, world-threatening fire resonates with Mahākāla’s saṃhāra-śakti; in Ujjain’s Mahākāleśvara tradition, Śiva as Time/Death subdues destructive forces and grants protection to the worlds.
Significance: Protection from untimely death, pacification of fierce forces (kāla/raudra), and stabilization of dharma through Śiva’s saṃhāra held in check by grace.
Type: rudram
Cosmic Event: World-threatening conflagration imagery (pralaya-like fire impulse) restrained within cosmic order.
FAQs
It portrays a cosmic, wrath-born fire capable of consuming the three worlds, yet described as “gentle-faced,” indicating that Shiva’s power (Rudra-śakti) is both destructive to bondage and ultimately auspicious when aligned with dharma and devotion.
The verse highlights Shiva’s Saguna sovereignty over elemental forces like fire; Linga-worship recognizes Him as the controller of creation and dissolution, and devotion transforms fearsome energies into grace-bearing, “saumya” (benevolent) manifestations.
A practical takeaway is to pacify inner ‘krodha-agni’ (anger-fire) through Panchākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and Tripuṇḍra/bhasma remembrance of impermanence, cultivating Shiva’s calm, auspicious awareness.