Shloka 14
मित्रसह-राज्ञो रक्षत्व-शापकथा — The Curse that Turns King Mitrasaha into a Rakshasa
Vasiṣṭha’s Śāpa Narrative
ततो निवृत्तशापस्तु तस्या वचनगौरवात् । तत्याज पादयोरंभः पादौ कल्मषतां गतौ
tato nivṛttaśāpastu tasyā vacanagauravāt | tatyāja pādayoraṃbhaḥ pādau kalmaṣatāṃ gatau
Then, because of the weight and sanctity of her words, the curse was withdrawn. The water at his feet departed, and those feet became touched by impurity.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
FAQs
It highlights that even when a curse is lifted by the force of righteous speech, the subtle trace of impurity (kalmaṣa) can remain until it is purified through devotion and Shiva’s grace—showing the Shaiva Siddhanta emphasis on cleansing pāśa (bondage) to approach Pati (Shiva).
The movement from curse to purification points to the need for approaching Saguna Shiva through Linga-worship as a concrete means of removing taint—devotion, offerings, and remembrance of Shiva restore sanctity where impurity has arisen.
A practical takeaway is purification through Shiva-upāsanā: japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) with reverence, and offering water to the Shiva-liṅga as a remedy for kalmaṣa.