Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 18

Devanagari script

पूज्यमाने ततस्तस्मिन्‌ मोदते स महेश्वर: । सुखं ददाति प्रीतात्मा भक्तानां भक्तवत्सल:

Transliteration

pūjyamāne tatastasmīn modate sa maheśvaraḥ | sukhaṃ dadāti prītātmā bhaktānāṃ bhaktavatsalaḥ ||

Translation

Kapag ang banal na sagisag na yaon ay sinasamba, si Mahādeva (Maheśvara) ay nalulugod. Siya na mapagmahal sa mga deboto, at laging may paglingap sa mga sumasamba sa Kanya—kapag masaya ang Kanyang puso—ay nagkakaloob sa kanila ng kaginhawahan at ligaya.

Word by Word

• {'pūjyamāne': 'when being worshipped

• upon worship (locative absolute)', 'tataḥ': 'then

• thereupon', 'tasmīn': 'in/with regard to that (object/context just mentioned)', 'modate': 'rejoices

• is delighted', 'saḥ': 'he', 'maheśvaraḥ': 'Maheśvara

• the Great Lord (Śiva)', 'sukham': 'happiness

• welfare', 'dadāti': 'gives

• bestows', 'prītātmā': 'one whose heart is pleased

• delighted in mind', 'bhaktānām': 'of devotees', 'bhaktavatsalaḥ': 'affectionate to devotees

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• वायुदेव (Vāyudeva)
• महेश्वर (Maheśvara/Śiva)
• शिवलिङ्ग (Śivaliṅga)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Sincere worship of Śiva (here, the liṅga as the worship-object) pleases Maheśvara, and His characteristic response is compassionate grace—bestowing sukha (well-being) upon devotees. The verse emphasizes bhakti as a direct cause for divine favor.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyudeva states that when the sacred object under discussion is worshipped, Śiva rejoices. Pleased at heart and known as bhaktavatsala (devotee-loving), he grants happiness to those who worship him.