Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 67
Lord Śiva Instructs the Pracetās (Śiva-stuti and the Path of Bhakti)
कस्त्वत्पदाब्जं विजहाति पण्डितो यस्तेऽवमानव्ययमानकेतन: । विशङ्कयास्मद्गुरुरर्चति स्म यद् विनोपपत्तिं मनवश्चतुर्दश ॥ ६७ ॥
kas tvat-padābjaṁ vijahāti paṇḍito yas te ’vamāna-vyayamāna-ketanaḥ viśaṅkayāsmad-gurur arcati sma yad vinopapattiṁ manavaś caturdaśa
Mein Herr, welcher Weise würde Deine Lotosfüße verlassen, da er weiß, dass ohne Deine Verehrung sein ganzes Leben verdorben ist? Selbst unser Vater und geistlicher Lehrer Brahmā verehrte Dich ohne Zögern, und die vierzehn Manus folgten seinen Spuren.
The word paṇḍita means “a wise man.” Who is actually a wise man? The wise man is described in Bhagavad-gītā (7.19) in this way:
FAQs
This verse says the Lord’s lotus feet are the refuge of those who are reduced or dishonored, and a wise person never abandons that shelter.
Śiva emphasizes that the Supreme Lord’s greatness transcends ordinary reasoning, so even exalted authorities like his own guru and the fourteen Manus worship Him with reverent awe rather than relying only on intellectual proof.
When status, reputation, or strength declines, the practical takeaway is to deepen one’s dependence on God through steady devotion instead of becoming discouraged or trying to rely solely on social validation or argument.