Śiva–Arjuna Yuddha and the Subjugation of Pride (Śiva-parīkṣā)
अर्जुन उवाच । भक्तप्रियस्य शम्भोस्ते सुप्रभो किं समीहितम् । वर्णनीयं मया देव कृपालुस्त्वं सदाशिव
arjuna uvāca | bhaktapriyasya śambhoste suprabho kiṃ samīhitam | varṇanīyaṃ mayā deva kṛpālustvaṃ sadāśiva
Arjuna thưa: “Ôi Đấng rực rỡ! Ôi Śambhu, Đấng yêu thương người sùng kính, Ngài mong muốn điều gì? Lạy Thần linh, xin dạy con điều con nên mô tả hay tuyên dương. Ngài đầy lòng từ mẫn, ôi Sadāśiva.”
Arjuna
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Mantra: भक्तप्रियस्य शम्भोस्ते सुप्रभो किं समीहितम् । वर्णनीयं मया देव कृपालुस्त्वं सदाशिव
Type: stotra
It expresses śaraṇāgati (devotional surrender): the devotee asks the bhaktapriya Śiva what He wishes, trusting Sadāśiva’s compassion to direct speech and action toward dharma and liberation.
By addressing Śambhu as personally responsive and devotee-loving, the verse supports Saguna worship—approaching Shiva as a gracious Lord who guides devotees; such guidance is commonly embodied in Linga-upāsanā, where the devotee seeks Shiva’s will through prayer and praise.
A simple bhakti practice is implied: prayerful inquiry followed by stotra/japa as instructed—especially Panchakshara japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a humble intention to speak only what pleases Shiva.