Kṛṣṇādi-Śivabhaktoddhāraṇa & Śiva-māhātmya-varṇana
Deliverance of Krishna and other devotees; Description of Shiva’s Greatness
हृदये संस्मन्भक्त्या प्रवणेन युतं शिवम् । तस्मान्मृत्युमुखाकारो गणो मृगमुखोऽभवत्
hṛdaye saṃsmanbhaktyā pravaṇena yutaṃ śivam | tasmānmṛtyumukhākāro gaṇo mṛgamukho'bhavat
Nhớ niệm Śiva trong tim với lòng sùng kính khiêm nhu và sự quy phục, vị gaṇa vốn mang dung mạo như miệng tử thần đáng sợ ấy liền hóa thành gương mặt nai hiền.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
It shows that sincere heart-centered remembrance of Pati (Śiva) through bhakti and surrender can transmute even a fearsome, death-like condition into a purified, auspicious state—an expression of Śiva’s grace removing bondage.
Although the verse speaks of inner remembrance, it aligns with Saguna upāsanā: devotees contemplate Śiva with form and qualities (as worshipped in the Liṅga), and that steady smaraṇa reshapes the devotee’s very nature.
Hṛdaya-dhyāna (meditating on Śiva in the heart) supported by bhakti—practically done with japa of the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” often alongside bhasma and rudrākṣa as Shaiva aids to remembrance.