Shloka 15
अहं गिरित्रश्च सुरादयो ये दक्षादयोऽग्नेरिव केतवस्ते । किं वा विदामेश पृथग्विभाता विधत्स्व शं नो द्विजदेवमन्त्रम् ॥ १५ ॥
ahaṁ giritraś ca surādayo ye dakṣādayo ’gner iva ketavas te kiṁ vā vidāmeśa pṛthag-vibhātā vidhatsva śaṁ no dvija-deva-mantram
I (Brahmā), Giritra (Śiva), and the other demigods, along with the prajāpatis such as Dakṣa, are merely sparks illumined by You, the original Fire. O Lord, being but Your parts, what can we know of our true welfare? O Supreme, grant us the means of deliverance befitting the brāhmaṇas and the devas.
In this verse, the word dvija-deva-mantram is very important. The word mantra means “that which delivers one from the material world.” Only the dvijas (the brāhmaṇas ) and the devas (the demigods) can be delivered from material existence by the instructions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Whatever is spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead is a mantra and is suitable for delivering the conditioned souls from mental speculation. The conditioned souls are engaged in a struggle for existence ( manaḥ ṣaṣṭhānīndriyāṇi prakṛti-sthāni karṣati ). Deliverance from this struggle constitutes the highest benefit, but unless one gets a mantra from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, deliverance is impossible. The beginning mantra is the Gāyatrī mantra. Therefore, after purification, when one is qualified to become a brāhmaṇa ( dvija ), he is offered the Gāyatrī mantra. Simply by chanting the Gāyatrī mantra, one can be delivered. This mantra, however, is suitable only for the brāhmaṇas and demigods. In Kali-yuga, we are all in a very difficult position, in which we need a suitable mantra that can deliver us from the dangers of this age. Therefore the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in His incarnation as Lord Caitanya, gives us the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra.
FAQs
This verse states that even great devas like Śiva and Dakṣa are like sparks from the Supreme—limited and dependent—so they pray for Viṣṇu’s guidance and welfare-bestowing mantra.
Facing a crisis and needing divine direction, they admit their limited understanding and request a sacred means of worship—“dvija-deva-mantram”—so their actions may become auspicious and successful under the Lord’s shelter.
Cultivate humility: recognize one’s limits, seek higher guidance through sincere prayer/mantra practice, and act for welfare rather than ego-driven outcomes.