Shloka 18
नारीसन्देहभञ्जक-शम्भ्ववतारकथा
The Account of Śambhu’s Incarnation that Dispels Doubts Concerning Women
अहो सुमहदाश्चर्य्यमिदं दृष्टम्मयाधुना । असंभाव्यमकथ्यं च सर्वथा मनसा गिरा
aho sumahadāścaryyamidaṃ dṛṣṭammayādhunā | asaṃbhāvyamakathyaṃ ca sarvathā manasā girā
อาโห! เมื่อครู่นี้เองเราได้เห็นอัศจรรย์อันยิ่งใหญ่ยิ่งนัก สิ่งนี้เหลือคณานับและมิอาจพรรณนาได้—พ้นไปจากทั้งใจคิดและวาจากล่าวโดยสิ้นเชิง
Suta Goswami (narrating the marvel of Shiva’s infinite forms as conveyed in the Shatarudrasaṃhitā narrative)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: General jyotirliṅga motif: the Lord’s infinitude is ‘unsayable’ (akathya) and ‘unthinkable’ (asaṃbhāvya), echoing the jyoti (limitless light) theme, though no specific shrine is named here.
Significance: Cultivates vismaya leading to śaraṇāgati; the ‘beyond mind and speech’ framing is itself a contemplative pilgrimage of awareness.
Type: stotra
Role: teaching
FAQs
It points to Shiva’s transcendence: even when Shiva is perceived in a form (saguṇa), His true reality remains beyond mental construction and verbal description, guiding the devotee toward humility, awe, and inward contemplation.
The Linga and other forms are compassionate, graspable supports for devotion; yet this verse reminds that the worshipped form indicates a Reality that cannot be fully captured by thought or speech—thus form-worship matures into reverence for Shiva’s limitless nature.
Adopt mantra-japa (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with silent contemplation afterward, allowing the mind to rest beyond words; worship with bhakti while remembering Shiva’s inexpressible greatness.