Shloka 20
Vaiśyanātha-avatāra-kathā
The Account of Śiva’s Manifestation as Vaiśyanātha
वैश्यनाथ उवाच । अस्मिन्रत्नवरे दिव्ये सस्पृहं यदि ते मनः । त्वमेवाधत्स्व सुप्रीत्या मौल्यमस्य ददासि किम्
vaiśyanātha uvāca | asminratnavare divye saspṛhaṃ yadi te manaḥ | tvamevādhatsva suprītyā maulyamasya dadāsi kim
Vaiśyanātha nói: “Nếu tâm ngài khởi lòng khao khát viên bảo châu thiêng liêng, tuyệt diệu này, thì chính ngài hãy hoan hỷ nhận lấy với lòng bhakti—ngài có thể trả giá gì cho nó đây?”
Vaiśyanātha
Tattva Level: pashu
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; the verse functions as a narrative ‘gift beyond price’ motif, later readable as bhakti where divine grace cannot be purchased.
Significance: Frames the core Siddhānta idea that Śiva’s anugraha is not a commodity; devotion (prīti) is the only ‘fitness’ (adhikāra).
FAQs
The verse highlights that truly divine gifts—symbols of Shiva’s grace—are not commodities; they are received through sincere longing and devotional readiness rather than worldly bargaining.
In Saguna Shiva worship, sacred objects and blessings (prasāda) are approached with reverence and devotion; the verse reinforces that the ‘value’ lies in bhakti and surrender to Shiva, not in material payment.
The practical takeaway is to approach Shiva’s worship with su-prīti (joyful devotion)—offer simple upacāras with faith, repeat the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and receive prasāda without transactional mentality.