Shloka 20
Arjuna’s Mantra-Empowerment and the Pāṇḍavas’ Separation (Śiva-rūpa through Mantra)
दुःखम्तथैव विज्ञेयं रामस्याप्यथ पाण्डव । यच्छ्रुत्वा स्त्रीनराणां च भवेन्मोहो महत्तरः
duḥkhamtathaiva vijñeyaṃ rāmasyāpyatha pāṇḍava | yacchrutvā strīnarāṇāṃ ca bhavenmoho mahattaraḥ
Hỡi Pāṇḍava, hãy biết rằng ngay cả Rāma cũng từng gặp nỗi khổ như thế; và khi nghe chuyện ấy, cả nữ lẫn nam đều khởi lên mê mờ càng lớn.
Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva Purana discourse, addressing a listener as Pāṇḍava)
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
It highlights that worldly sorrow can touch even the greatest exemplars, and that hearing of such events can intensify moha; the Shaiva takeaway is to seek Pati (Shiva) as the stabilizing refuge beyond changing experiences.
By pointing to the universality of duḥkha and moha, it indirectly urges devotees toward Saguna Shiva worship—Linga-upāsanā—as a concrete support for steadiness, surrender, and purification of the mind.
Practice japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and maintain Shaiva disciplines like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as supports for reducing moha and cultivating vairāgya.