Shloka 1
सूत उवाच । अंतर्हिते हरौ विप्रा नारदो मुनिसत्तमः । विचचार महीं पश्यञ्छिवलिंगानि भक्तितः
sūta uvāca | aṃtarhite harau viprā nārado munisattamaḥ | vicacāra mahīṃ paśyañchivaliṃgāni bhaktitaḥ
สูตะกล่าวว่า: ดูก่อนพราหมณ์ทั้งหลาย เมื่อหริ (วิษณุ) อันตรธานหายไปจากสายตา นารทมุนีผู้ประเสริฐได้ท่องไปทั่วแผ่นดิน เพ่งดูศิวลึงค์ทั้งหลายด้วยภักติอันลึกซึ้ง।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Sthala Purana: Sets up a tīrtha-yātrā motif: Nārada’s earth-wandering to behold Śiva-liṅgas, anticipating later localization of liṅga-sites (including Jyotirliṅgas in broader tradition).
Significance: Darśana of Śiva-liṅgas with bhakti is framed as spiritually transformative—purifying the paśu (bound soul) and orienting it toward Śiva’s grace.
Cosmic Event: Antarhāna of Hari as narrative trigger for Nārada’s devotional roaming.
FAQs
It highlights that a realized sage like Nārada responds to divine mystery by turning to bhakti—seeking Śiva’s presence through reverent darśana of the Liṅga, the accessible Saguna support of the Supreme Pati.
The verse portrays Liṅga-darśana as a direct devotional encounter with Śiva’s manifest grace, emphasizing that the Liṅga is a sacred focus through which devotees approach the transcendent (Nirguṇa) Lord in a worshipable (Saguṇa) form.
A practical takeaway is Liṅga-darśana and pilgrimage with devotion—regularly visiting Śiva temples, offering simple upacāras (water, bilva leaves), and inwardly remembering the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”