Shloka 37
पार्वत्याः तपः—हिमालयादिभिः उपदेशः / Pārvatī’s Austerity and Counsel from Himālaya and Others
यथा दग्धः पुरा तेन मदनो दुरतिक्रमः । तथैव क्रोधयुक्तो नः स धक्ष्यति न संशयः
yathā dagdhaḥ purā tena madano duratikramaḥ | tathaiva krodhayukto naḥ sa dhakṣyati na saṃśayaḥ
Just as in former times that formidable, irresistible Kāma was burned by him, so too—when united with wrath—he will burn us as well; of this there is no doubt.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Parvati Khanda episode to the sages, conveying the speakers’ fear of Shiva’s wrath)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Rudra
Sthala Purana: Alludes to the Kāma-dahana episode: Śiva’s fiery glance reduces Kāma to ashes when the gods attempt to disturb His tapas; the verse uses that precedent to express fear of Śiva’s wrath.
Significance: General teaching: remembrance of Śiva’s Rudra-śakti inspires humility and surrender, turning fear into reverence.
Cosmic Event: Kāma-dahana (mythic precedent of Śiva’s fiery power)
FAQs
It highlights Shiva as the supreme purifier whose fiery tapas burns even the most overpowering impulses like desire; the verse warns that approaching Shiva with hostility or ego invites the consuming force of karmic consequence, while surrender leads toward purification and liberation.
The verse points to Saguna Shiva’s manifest power to dissolve passions (kāma) and destructive emotions (krodha). In Linga-worship, devotees approach Shiva as the inner fire of consciousness—seeking the burning away of impurities rather than fearing divine punishment.
A practical takeaway is to pacify anger and desire through japa of the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” along with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) remembrance of impermanence—praying that Shiva’s fire burn inner passions, not the devotee.