Shloka 55
Adhyāya 283: Varṇa-vṛtti, Nyāya-ārjana, and the Decline-and-Restoration of Dharma (वर्णवृत्तिः न्यायार्जनं च)
शरणं गच्छ विप्रेन्द्र देवदेवमुमापतिम् । वरं क्रोधो5पि देवस्य वरदानं न चान्यत:,विप्रवर! तुम देवाधिदेव उमावललभ भगवान् शिवकी शरणमें जाओ। महादेवजीका क्रोध भी परम मंगलमय है और दूसरोंसे मिला हुआ वरदान भी मंगलकारक नहीं होता
śaraṇaṃ gaccha viprendra devadevam umāpatim | varaṃ krodho 'pi devasya varadānaṃ na cānyataḥ ||
Vīrabhadra said: “O best of brāhmaṇas, go for refuge to the God of gods, Umā’s lord (Śiva). Even the deity’s anger is preferable—for it can be ultimately auspicious—whereas a boon obtained from any other source is not truly beneficial.”
वीरभद्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches śaraṇāgati—seeking refuge in the supreme Lord (Śiva). It also conveys that even divine displeasure can be purifying and ultimately beneficial, while favors gained from lesser or external sources may not lead to true good.
Vīrabhadra addresses a learned brāhmaṇa and urges him to approach Śiva for protection and resolution. The counsel emphasizes Śiva’s supreme status and the idea that aligning with him—even through accepting his corrective wrath—is safer than relying on boons from other powers.