Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 31
दीक्षितपुत्रस्य दैन्यचिन्ता तथा शिवरात्र्युपासनाप्रसङ्गः / The Initiate’s Son in Distress and the Occasion of Śivarātri Worship
यूयं प्रमाणं धर्मेषु यथा न च तथा वयम् । अस्ति चेद्धर्मलेशोस्य गणास्तं शृणुमो वयम्
yūyaṃ pramāṇaṃ dharmeṣu yathā na ca tathā vayam | asti ceddharmaleśosya gaṇāstaṃ śṛṇumo vayam
In Fragen des Dharma seid ihr der maßgebliche Maßstab; wir sind es nicht. Darum, o Gaṇas, wenn in dieser Sache auch nur ein Hauch von Dharma ist, möchten wir ihn von euch vernehmen.
Brahma (addressing Shiva’s Gaṇas during the Sṛṣṭi narrative)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches humility and discernment: even a great cosmic functionary acknowledges that true dharma must be confirmed by proper authority, aligning one’s judgment with Shiva’s ordained order rather than ego or status.
In Saguna worship, Shiva’s will is approached through proper channels—guru, scripture, and the Lord’s ordained attendants. The verse reflects the Shaiva principle that dharma is validated by what accords with Shiva (Pati) and his command, not merely by personal opinion.
Practice dharma-sankalpa before worship: begin japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with humility, seeking correction from śāstra and guru, and offering actions to Shiva as the final pramāṇa of right conduct.