Shloka 56
Adhyāya 283: Varṇa-vṛtti, Nyāya-ārjana, and the Decline-and-Restoration of Dharma (वर्णवृत्तिः न्यायार्जनं च)
वीरभद्रवच: श्रुत्वा दक्षो धर्मभृतां वर: । तोषयामास स्तोत्रेण प्रणिपत्य महेश्वरम्,वीरभद्रकी यह बात सुनकर धर्मात्माओंमें श्रेष्ठ दक्षने भगवान् शिवके उद्देश्यसे प्रणाम करके निम्नांकित स्तोत्रके द्वारा उनकी स्तुति की--
vīrabhadravacaḥ śrutvā dakṣo dharmabhṛtāṃ varaḥ | toṣayāmāsa stotreṇa praṇipatya maheśvaram ||
Als Dakṣa die Worte Vīrabhadras vernahm—der Vornehmste unter den Wahrern des Dharma—verneigte er sich vor Maheśvara (Śiva) und suchte ihn durch einen Lobeshymnus zu besänftigen.
वीरभद्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
When one has caused or participated in wrongdoing—especially through pride—restoring dharma begins with humility: acknowledging fault, bowing to the higher principle (here embodied by Śiva), and offering sincere praise and repentance to seek reconciliation.
After hearing Vīrabhadra’s words, Dakṣa changes his stance: he prostrates before Śiva (Maheśvara) and attempts to pacify him by reciting a stotra, signaling a move from conflict and offense toward appeasement and restoration of order.