Shloka 24
दक्षस्य विष्णुं प्रति शरणागतिḥ — Dakṣa’s Appeal to Viṣṇu and the Teaching on Disrespect to Śiva
विष्णुरुवाच । मया रक्षा विधातव्या तव यज्ञस्य दक्ष वै । ख्यातो मम पणः सत्यो धर्मस्य परिपालनम्
viṣṇuruvāca | mayā rakṣā vidhātavyā tava yajñasya dakṣa vai | khyāto mama paṇaḥ satyo dharmasya paripālanam
Viṣṇu sprach: „O Dakṣa, ich muss wahrlich dein Opfer schützen. Denn mein wohlbekanntes und wahrhaftiges Gelübde ist dies: die Bewahrung des Dharma.“
Vishnu
Tattva Level: pashu
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; Viṣṇu asserts his dharma-vow to protect the yajña, foreshadowing the limitation of worldly ‘protection’ when opposed to Rudra.
Significance: Teaches that dharma-preservation (sthiti) is valid, yet incomplete if it ignores Śiva as Pati; ritual without right orientation to Śiva-tattva becomes vulnerable.
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
The verse frames divine action as the protection of dharma, showing that ritual (yajña) is upheld only when aligned with right order and humility—an important backdrop to the Shiva Purana’s critique of ego-driven sacrifice.
In the Dakṣa-yajña storyline, mere ritual power is insufficient when Shiva is slighted; the Linga/Saguna Shiva represents the rightful center of worship, and dharma is complete only when devotion and reverence to Shiva accompany sacrificial acts.
The practical takeaway is dharma-aligned worship: perform rites with humility and remembrance of Shiva—supported by japa of the Panchākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and a dharmic intention rather than pride in ritual alone.