Shloka 3
Sunartaka-Naṭa Avatāra and Pārvatī’s Boon-Request (Śiva as the Testing Benefactor)
तदा शिवः प्रसन्नो भूत्तस्यास्सुतपसो मुने । तद्वृत्तसुपरीक्षार्थं वरं दातुम्मुदा ययौ
tadā śivaḥ prasanno bhūttasyāssutapaso mune | tadvṛttasuparīkṣārthaṃ varaṃ dātummudā yayau
Bấy giờ Đức Śiva hoan hỷ trước khổ hạnh cao quý của vị hiền triết ấy. Và để khảo nghiệm trọn vẹn sự vững bền trong hạnh kiểm của ông, Ngài vui mừng đi đến để ban một ân phúc.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: Śiva’s ‘testing before boon’ is a common purāṇic template behind many local legends where the deity appears incognito to verify the devotee’s steadiness; this verse itself does not anchor to a named sthala.
Significance: Teaches that anugraha (grace) is preceded by parīkṣā (testing), refining the paśu’s resolve and sincerity before bestowal.
FAQs
It shows that Śiva’s grace arises when tapas is joined with right conduct (vṛtta). The Lord may test a seeker’s steadiness so the boon becomes spiritually elevating rather than ego-feeding.
Here Śiva acts as Saguna—personally approaching the devotee. In Linga-worship too, the devotee seeks not only results but the Lord’s pleased presence, which comes through disciplined devotion and purity.
Sustained tapas with ethical vows: daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), simple worship with bhasma and Rudrākṣa (as per capacity), and self-examination of conduct—since the ‘test’ concerns vṛtta (character).