Shloka 41
Śiva–Arjuna Yuddha and the Subjugation of Pride (Śiva-parīkṣā)
इत्यष्टाशीत्यवताराः । इति श्रीशिवमहापुराणे तृतीयायां शतरुद्रसंहितायां किरातेश्वरावतारवर्णनं नामैकचत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः
ityaṣṭāśītyavatārāḥ | iti śrīśivamahāpurāṇe tṛtīyāyāṃ śatarudrasaṃhitāyāṃ kirāteśvarāvatāravarṇanaṃ nāmaikacatvāriṃśo'dhyāyaḥ
Sa gayon inilarawan ang walumpu’t walong avatāra (mga pagpapakita) ni Panginoong Śiva. Dito nagtatapos ang ika-apatnapu’t isang kabanata ng Śrī Śiva Mahāpurāṇa, sa ikatlong aklat, ang Śatarudra Saṃhitā, na pinamagatang “Paglalarawan sa Avatāra ni Kirāṭeśvara.”
Suta Goswami (traditional Purāṇic colophon concluding the narration to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; this is a colophon concluding the Kirāṭeśvara-avatāra narration and the enumeration of Śiva’s many avatāras.
Significance: Textual śravaṇa/pāṭha of avatāra-kathā is framed as smṛti-sādhana: it strengthens śaraṇāgati to Pati (Śiva) and loosens pāśa (bondage) through right understanding and devotion.
FAQs
It functions as a concluding colophon, affirming that Śiva’s manifestations are many (here counted as eighty-eight) and that the chapter’s purpose is remembrance of His līlā—devotionally contemplating the Lord’s saguna forms as a doorway to grace and liberation.
By emphasizing multiple avatāras, it supports saguna-upāsanā—worship of Śiva in accessible forms—while remaining consistent with Liṅga worship as the universal emblem of the same Supreme Pati beyond form.
A practical takeaway is nāma-smaraṇa and japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—while meditating on Śiva’s chosen form (such as Kirāṭeśvara) to cultivate bhakti and inner steadiness.