ଶ୍ରୀ ଶିଵ ସ୍ତୁତିଃ (ଦେଵ କୃତମ୍)

Eight verses spoken by the gods, and their second verse admits something the devotional hymns usually leave out — that the ones praising him cannot see him. Salutation to the thousand-eyed, salutation to you, trident in hand; salutation to the hand that holds the khatvanga, salutation to the bearer of the staff. You are the flame of the fire that eats the offering of the gods, of a light like a crore of suns; but in the absence of a sight of you, god, we are now in the confusion of ignorance. That is the whole difficulty the hymn is answering. Its last verse asks in the plainest way available: Bhava, Sharva, Mahadeva, holder of the Pinaka, Rudra, Hara — we have all bowed, lord of the universe; save us, supreme lord.