Śiva–Arjuna Yuddha and the Subjugation of Pride (Śiva-parīkṣā)
शिवोपि च तथाभूतञ्ज्ञात्वा पाण्डवमर्जुनम् । निजभक्तवरं स्वामी महातुष्टो बभूव ह
śivopi ca tathābhūtañjñātvā pāṇḍavamarjunam | nijabhaktavaraṃ svāmī mahātuṣṭo babhūva ha
湿婆亦然,认出般度族的阿周那确为如此之人,便知他是自己最上首的奉主者;那位主宰因此极其欢喜。
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Role: liberating
It highlights that Shiva’s grace arises when He recognizes unwavering devotion; the Lord acknowledges the devotee’s inner sincerity and responds with divine pleasure, indicating the Shaiva path where bhakti draws the Pati’s compassionate favor toward the jīva.
The verse presents Saguna Shiva as a personal Lord who perceives and confirms a devotee’s bhakti; Linga-worship similarly trains the devotee in steadiness and surrender, culminating in Shiva’s pleased bestowal of protection and spiritual upliftment.
Steady bhakti expressed through japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined worship—such as offering with purity, and contemplative remembrance of Shiva—aligns the mind so that grace (anugraha) becomes accessible.