Shloka 4
Śiva–Arjuna Yuddha and the Subjugation of Pride (Śiva-parīkṣā)
पीडितास्ते गणास्तेन ययुश्चैव दिशो दश । गणेशा वारितास्ते च नाजग्मुस्स्वामिनम्प्रति
pīḍitāste gaṇāstena yayuścaiva diśo daśa | gaṇeśā vāritāste ca nājagmussvāminamprati
เหล่าคณะคณาถูกเขากดขี่แล้วหนีไปทั้งสิบทิศ; แม้พระคเณศจะห้ามไว้ พวกเขาก็มิได้กลับไปหานายของตน.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
FAQs
It shows how beings, when overpowered by adversity and fear, scatter outward into the “ten directions” (distraction), instead of returning inward to the Lord (Śiva) as refuge—highlighting the Shaiva Siddhanta ideal of śaraṇāgati (surrender to Pati).
The verse underscores the need to turn back to the svāmin—Saguna Śiva as the accessible protector and master. In Linga-worship, this is enacted by physically ‘returning’ to Śiva through pūjā, japa, and remembrance rather than fleeing into worldly directions.
A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as supports—training the mind to return to Śiva in crisis rather than run outward into fear.