ŚLOKA 23 / 100

Wanting you rather than a station

karomi tvatpūjāṃ sapadi sukhado me bhava vibhovidhitvaṃ viṣṇutvaṃ diśasi khalu tasyāḥphalamiti ;punaśca tvāṃ draṣṭuṃ divi bhuvi vahan pakṣimṛgatā-madṛṣṭvā tatkhedaṃ kathamiha sahe śaṅkara vibho . 23 .

About these study notes: English meanings and explanations were generated with AI assistance and have not been independently reviewed by a Sanskrit scholar. Sanskrit text follows the cited source editions.

A phrase at a time.

Follow the words into meaning. Select a phrase to locate it in the verse above. Read the quarters together for the full sentence.

Sringeri IAST text · source wording and line-break hyphens retained. English glosses follow the connected Sanskrit sense.

These four study units follow the printed quarters. Sentences and compounds can continue across a line break; read the whole verse for connected meaning. The source wording stays unchanged.

Source-linked study entries
Selected phraseMeaning in context

I worship you; grant me happiness at once, O Lord.

Key expressions in this quarter: pūjā — worship; sukhada — giver of happiness.

If you offer the station of Brahma or Vishnu as its reward.

Key expressions in this quarter: vidhitva — the state of Brahma; viṣṇutva — the state of Vishnu.

I would again become bird or beast, searching heaven and earth to see you.

Key expressions in this quarter: pakṣi — bird; mṛga — beast; draṣṭum — to see.

Unable to find you, how could I endure that sorrow, O Shankara?

Key expressions in this quarter: kheda — sorrow or weariness.

Wanting you rather than a station

I worship you; grant me happiness at once, O Lord. If you offer the station of Brahma or Vishnu as its reward. I would again become bird or beast, searching heaven and earth to see you. Unable to find you, how could I endure that sorrow, O Shankara?

How the verse unfolds.

The verse refers to the story of Brahma and Vishnu seeking the limits of Shiva's fiery manifestation. Even their exalted roles would not satisfy a devotee whose purpose is the encounter itself. The apparent refusal of reward sharpens the meaning of wholehearted devotion.

EDITORIAL EXPLANATION · NOT A TRADITIONAL COMMENTARY

Would the reward I ask for actually bring me closer to what I love?

Read this verse once more, then sit with the question. Notice the particular image or expression that holds your attention. You do not need to force an answer.

Keep a reflection or question ↓

Connected themes

Editorial lenses; a verse may invite other readings.

Associated Tattva

Devotion as the desired fruit

The positions of Brahma and Vishnu would still leave the speaker searching for Shiva. Divine status is therefore not a substitute for the encounter actually desired.

Explore this Tattva →

A phrase, a question, a moment of understanding

Would the reward I ask for actually bring me closer to what I love?

Browser notes stay on this device. Account reflections remain separate unless you explicitly import them.