कैलासमार्गे शङ्करस्य परीक्षा — Śiva Tests the Approachers on the Kailāsa Path
यज्ञविध्वंसकर्त्रे च यज्ञानां फलदायिने । नमस्ते मखरूपाय परकर्मप्रवर्तिने
yajñavidhvaṃsakartre ca yajñānāṃ phaladāyine | namaste makharūpāya parakarmapravartine
Kính lễ Ngài—Đấng có thể chấm dứt nghi lễ tế tự, nhưng chỉ riêng Ngài ban cho quả phúc chân thật của mọi tế lễ; cúi đầu đảnh lễ Ngài, chính là hình thể của Makha (tế lễ), và là Đấng thúc đẩy muôn loài tiến theo nghiệp hành đã định.
Suta Goswami (narrating the hymn/praise occurring in the Yuddhakhaṇḍa context)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Frames all ritual efficacy as dependent on Śiva: he can terminate external yajña yet alone grants its fruit—encouraging pilgrims to prioritize Śiva-bhakti over mere ritualism.
Mantra: yajñavidhvaṃsakartre ca yajñānāṃ phaladāyine | namaste makharūpāya parakarmapravartine
Type: stotra
Role: nurturing
Offering: dhupa
The verse teaches that Shiva is both the power that can dissolve outward ritualism and the Lord who grants the real fruit of sacrifice—inner purification and grace—so devotion and right understanding must accompany rites.
Calling Shiva “makharūpa” aligns with Saguna worship: the Linga embodies the Lord as the sacred center of yajna and worship, indicating that all offerings culminate in Shiva, the indwelling recipient and fulfiller.
Perform worship as an inner yajna—offer actions and ego into Shiva through japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and maintain purity of intention, seeing Shiva as the giver of all karmic fruits.