Shloka 29
Dakṣa’s Sacrifice Restored: Śiva’s Mercy and Nārāyaṇa’s Appearance
रुद्र उवाच तव वरद वराङ्घ्रावाशिषेहाखिलार्थे ह्यपि मुनिभिरसक्तैरादरेणार्हणीये । यदि रचितधियं माविद्यलोकोऽपविद्धं जपति न गणये तत्त्वत्परानुग्रहेण ॥ २९ ॥
rudra uvāca tava varada varāṅghrāv āśiṣehākhilārthe hy api munibhir asaktair ādareṇārhaṇīye yadi racita-dhiyaṁ māvidya-loko ’paviddhaṁ japati na gaṇaye tat tvat-parānugraheṇa
Lord Śiva said: “O bestower of boons, Your exalted feet are the source of all blessings and the fulfillment of all aims; even liberated sages worship them with reverence. With my mind fixed on Your lotus feet, I do not heed those who revile me as impure. By Your grace toward those devoted to truth, I forgive them with compassion, just as You show compassion to all beings.”
Lord Śiva expresses herein his regret at having been angry and having disturbed the sacrificial activities of Dakṣa. King Dakṣa had insulted him in many ways, and thus he had become angry and had frustrated the entire sacrificial ceremony. Later, when he was pleased, the yajña performances were reinstituted, and therefore he regretted his activities. Now he says that because his mind is fixed on the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord, Viṣṇu, he is no longer disturbed by the ordinary critics of his way of life. From this statement by Lord Śiva it is understood that as long as one is on the material platform one is affected by the three modes of material nature. As soon as one is in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, however, one is no longer affected by such material activities. One should therefore always be fixed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, busy in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. It is guaranteed that such a devotee will never be affected by the actions and reactions of the three modes of material nature. This fact is also corroborated in Bhagavad-gītā: anyone who is fixed in the transcendental service of the Lord has surpassed all the material qualities and is situated in the status of Brahman realization, in which one is not afflicted by hankering for material objects. The recommendation of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is that one should always be Kṛṣṇa conscious and should never forget his transcendental relationship with the Lord. This program has to be followed strictly by everyone. From the statement of Lord Śiva it is understood that he was always in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and thus he remained free from material affliction. The only remedy, therefore, is to continue Kṛṣṇa consciousness rigidly, in order to get out of the contamination of the material modes.
FAQs
This verse shows Śiva honoring Viṣṇu’s lotus feet as supremely worshipable even for detached sages, and treating any praise directed to himself as insignificant compared to Viṣṇu’s mercy.
After the Dakṣa-yajña disturbance and its resolution, Śiva offers prayers, emphasizing that Viṣṇu is the ultimate refuge and that any reverence Śiva receives is meaningful only when it arises through Viṣṇu’s grace.
Treat recognition and praise as secondary, and focus on serving truth and devotion; value sincerity over showy words, and credit real success to higher grace rather than ego.