Shloka 18
Paramātma-Svarūpa-Nirṇaya: Strī–Puṃ–Napuṃsaka-Vicāra
Inquiry into the Supreme Self and Gendered Forms
त्वयोपदिष्टा ये शिष्यास्तत्र को वा भवत्समः । कपिलादिषु शास्त्रेषु भ्रमंत्यद्यापि तेऽधमाः
tvayopadiṣṭā ye śiṣyāstatra ko vā bhavatsamaḥ | kapilādiṣu śāstreṣu bhramaṃtyadyāpi te'dhamāḥ
Among those disciples instructed by you, who could possibly be your equal? Yet those wretched ones still wander even today through the treatises of Kapila and other such doctrines—straying from the true path of Śiva.
A Shaiva teacher/devotee addressing another revered Shaiva preceptor (narrated within Suta Goswami’s recitation in the Kailasa Samhita context)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
FAQs
It emphasizes fidelity to Śiva-tattva and the Śaiva guru’s instruction, warning that merely roaming through alternative philosophies can become spiritual “wandering” if it diverts one from devotion and liberation under Pati (Śiva).
By criticizing doctrinal wandering, it implicitly upholds the Śaiva orientation where worship of Śiva—often through the Liṅga as Saguna support leading to Nirguna realization—remains the steady means rather than endless speculative systems.
Stay anchored in Śiva-upāsanā: japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with disciplined devotion, supported by Śaiva observances such as bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa where appropriate.