देवप्रियश्च तज्ज्येष्ठः प्रियमेधास्ततः परम् । तृतीयस्तु कृतो नाम धर्मवाही च सुव्रतः
devapriyaśca tajjyeṣṭhaḥ priyamedhāstataḥ param | tṛtīyastu kṛto nāma dharmavāhī ca suvrataḥ
Among them, the eldest was Devapriya. Next came Priyamedhā. The third was named Kṛta—upright in conduct—one who bore and upheld dharma, and firm in sacred vows.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Īśāna
It highlights the Shaiva ideal that noble birth is affirmed by noble conduct—upholding dharma and observing pure vows (suvrata), which mature the soul toward Shiva’s grace.
By praising dharma-bearing and disciplined vows, the verse points to the inner qualifications that make external worship—such as Linga-puja—fruitful and truly Shiva-centered.
It suggests vrata (disciplined observance) as a core practice—regular purity, restraint, and steady devotion, ideally supported by mantra-japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and consistent puja.