Shloka 22
ब्राह्मणीमरणवर्णनम् (Account of the Brahmin Woman’s Death) — within Nandikeśvara-māhātmya
कदाचित्क्रियमाणा सा विविधं पुण्यमाचरत् । न मृता दैवयोगेन द्विजपत्नी च सा द्विजाः
kadācitkriyamāṇā sā vividhaṃ puṇyamācarat | na mṛtā daivayogena dvijapatnī ca sā dvijāḥ
Once, as circumstances unfolded, she engaged in many kinds of meritorious observances. By the workings of destiny she did not die; that brāhmaṇa’s wife remained alive, O brāhmaṇas.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Role: liberating
FAQs
The verse highlights the interplay of personal effort (puṇya through dharmic acts) and daiva (destiny), implying that life is preserved for a higher spiritual unfolding—often to bring the soul toward Shiva’s grace and right worship.
In Kotirudra contexts, continued life by “daiva-yoga” commonly serves the narrative purpose of enabling pilgrimage, vows, and eventual approach to Shiva’s saguna form—especially through Jyotirlinga darśana and prescribed observances.
The direct takeaway is to persist in “vividhaṃ puṇyam”—vows, charity, purity, and Shiva-oriented worship; practically this aligns with regular japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined vrata conduct when undertaken.