Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 18

Devanagari script

पूज्यमाने ततस्तस्मिन्‌ मोदते स महेश्वर: । सुखं ददाति प्रीतात्मा भक्तानां भक्तवत्सल:

Transliteration

pūjyamāne tatastasmīn modate sa maheśvaraḥ | sukhaṃ dadāti prītātmā bhaktānāṃ bhaktavatsalaḥ ||

Translation

当那神圣的标志受人礼拜时，摩诃提婆（大自在天，Maheśvara）便心生欢悦。祂怜爱信众，恒常眷顾礼敬祂的人；当其心意满足之际，便赐予他们安乐与福祉。

Word by Word

• {'pūjyamāne': 'when being worshipped

• upon worship (locative absolute)', 'tataḥ': 'then

• thereupon', 'tasmīn': 'in/with regard to that (object/context just mentioned)', 'modate': 'rejoices

• is delighted', 'saḥ': 'he', 'maheśvaraḥ': 'Maheśvara

• the Great Lord (Śiva)', 'sukham': 'happiness

• welfare', 'dadāti': 'gives

• bestows', 'prītātmā': 'one whose heart is pleased

• delighted in mind', 'bhaktānām': 'of devotees', 'bhaktavatsalaḥ': 'affectionate to devotees

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• वायुदेव (Vāyudeva)
• महेश्वर (Maheśvara/Śiva)
• शिवलिङ्ग (Śivaliṅga)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Sincere worship of Śiva (here, the liṅga as the worship-object) pleases Maheśvara, and His characteristic response is compassionate grace—bestowing sukha (well-being) upon devotees. The verse emphasizes bhakti as a direct cause for divine favor.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyudeva states that when the sacred object under discussion is worshipped, Śiva rejoices. Pleased at heart and known as bhaktavatsala (devotee-loving), he grants happiness to those who worship him.