What is the core message of 'ēkaṁ brahmaiva:’:’dvitīyaṁ samastaṁ'?

It emphasizes the singular, all-encompassing nature of Brahman (the ultimate reality), asserting that everything is truly one and there is no duality.

According to the verses, who truly knows Shiva (Mahēśaṁ)?

The verses state that neither the Vedas, Vishnu, Brahma, yogis, nor the chief gods like Indra fully know Shiva; only the devotee (bhaktaḥ) truly knows Him.

What paradoxical qualities are attributed to Shiva in the provided verses?

Shiva is described with paradoxical qualities such as being the creator and destroyer, having no form yet appearing in many forms, being old, young, and a child, and possessing qualities like hearing without ears.

What analogies are used to describe the illusory nature of the world (prapañcaḥ)?

The world's illusory nature is compared to a snake appearing in a rope, silver in a shell, and a mirage in the desert, highlighting that the world's appearance is not its true reality.

What elements are used to exemplify Shiva's pervasive presence?

Shiva's all-pervading presence is illustrated through elements like coolness in water, heat in fire, warmth in the sun, fragrance in a flower, and ghee within milk.

abhilāṣāṣṭakam

1277
Shiv Stotra

ēkaṁ brahmaiva:’:’dvitīyaṁ samastaṁ
satyaṁ satyaṁ nēha nānāsti kiñcit |
ēkō rudrō na dvitīyōva tasthē
tasmādēkaṁ tvāṁ prapadyē mahēśaṁ || 1 ||

kartā hartā tvaṁ hi sarvasya śambhō
nānā rūpēṣu ēkarūpōpi arūpaḥ |
yadvat pratyak dharma ēkō:’pi anēkaḥ
tasmāt nānyaṁ tvāṁ vinēśaṁ prapadyē || 2 ||

rajjau sarpaḥ śuktikāyāṁ ca raupyaṁ
nīraiḥ pūraḥ tanmr̥gākhyē marīcau |
yadvat tadvat viṣvak ēṣaḥ prapañcaḥ
yasmin jñātē taṁ prapadyē mahēśam || 3 ||

tōyē śaityaṁ dāhakatvaṁ ca vahnau
tāpō bhānau śīta bhānau prasādaḥ |
puṣpē gandhaḥ dugdha madhyē:’pi sarpiḥ
yattat śambhō tvaṁ tataḥ tvāṁ prapadyē || 4 ||

śabdaṁ gr̥hṇāsi aśravāḥ tvaṁ hi jighrēḥ
agrāṇaḥ tvaṁ vyaṅghriḥ āyāsi dūrāt |
vyakṣaḥ paśyēḥ tvaṁ rasajñō:’pi ajihvaḥ
kaḥ tvāṁ samyak vētti ataḥ tvāṁ prapadyē || 5 ||

nō vēda tvāṁ īśa sākṣāt vivēda
nō vā viṣṇuḥ nō vidhātā:’khilasya |
nō yōgīndrāḥ nēndra mukhyāśca dēvāḥ
bhaktō vēdatvāṁ atastvāṁ prapadyē || 6 ||

nō tē gōtraṁ nēśa janmāpi nākhyā
nō vā rūpaṁ naiva śīlaṁ na tējaḥ |
itthaṁ bhūtōpi īśvaraḥ tvaṁ trilōkyāḥ
sarvān kāmān pūrayēḥ tat bhajē tvām || 7 ||

tvattaḥ sarvaṁ tvaṁ hi sarvaṁ smarārē
tvaṁ gaurīśaḥ tvaṁ ca nagnaḥ atiśāntaḥ |
tvaṁ vai vr̥ddhaḥ tvaṁ yuvā tvaṁ ca bālaḥ
tatvaṁ yatkiṁ nāsi ataḥ tvāṁ natō:’ham || 8 ||

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