Shloka 38
Śiva-nāma-smaraṇa and Śambhu’s Protective Manifestation
Dāruka Episode
ततस्त्वं तत्र गत्वा च विवरे च कृते मया । प्रविश्य च तदा पूजां कृत्वा नागेश्वरस्य च
tatastvaṃ tatra gatvā ca vivare ca kṛte mayā | praviśya ca tadā pūjāṃ kṛtvā nāgeśvarasya ca
“پھر تم وہاں جاؤ؛ میرے بنائے ہوئے شگاف کے تیار ہوتے ہی اس میں داخل ہو کر اسی وقت ناگیشور (شیو) کی بھی پوجا کرنا۔”
Suta Goswami (narrating the Kotirudra Samhita account of Nāgeśvara Jyotirliṅga worship to the sages)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Nāṭarāja
Jyotirlinga: Nāgeśvara
Sthala Purana: Śiva creates an opening and directs the devotee to enter and worship Nāgeśvara—framing Nāgeśvara as a revealed sacred presence accessible by Śiva’s own intervention and the devotee’s obedience and pūjā.
Significance: Worship of Nāgeśvara grants protection from poisons/fears (nāga symbolism), removes bondage, and bestows Śiva’s grace; emphasizes darśana obtained through devotion and right ritual.
Type: stotra
Offering: dhupa
FAQs
The verse emphasizes obedient entry into a sanctified space and the performance of pūjā to Nāgeśvara, highlighting that devotion expressed through proper approach and worship to Saguna Śiva (the Jyotirliṅga) becomes a means of grace and inner purification.
By explicitly instructing “pūjāṃ kṛtvā nāgeśvarasya,” it frames Nāgeśvara as an accessible, worshipful manifestation of Śiva (Saguna), where entering the shrine/inner area and offering worship to the Liṅga is presented as the direct devotional act.
It suggests entering the designated sacred precinct and performing Liṅga-pūjā—offerings with reverence, purity, and focused mind; practitioners may accompany it with japa of Śiva’s names (especially the pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) as part of the worship.