Shloka 18
दक्षस्य तपः तथा जगदम्बायाः प्रत्यक्षता — Dakṣa’s Austerities and the Direct Manifestation of Jagadambā
दक्ष उवाच । जगदम्बा महामाये यदि त्वं वरदा मम । मद्वचः शृणु सुप्रीत्या मम कामं प्रपूरय
dakṣa uvāca | jagadambā mahāmāye yadi tvaṃ varadā mama | madvacaḥ śṛṇu suprītyā mama kāmaṃ prapūraya
Dakṣa said: “O Mother of the universe, O great Māyā—if you are indeed the giver of boons to me, then listen to my words with gracious delight and fulfill my desired intention.”
Daksha
Tattva Level: pasha
FAQs
It shows how a soul turns toward the Divine Mother as the operative power (Śakti/Māyā) behind worldly attainments, seeking grace; yet in Shaiva Siddhanta this also hints that boons tied to personal desire remain within Māyā and are not the same as liberation bestowed by Shiva’s supreme grace.
By addressing Jagadambā as Mahāmāyā and ‘boon-giver,’ the verse reflects Saguna devotion—approaching the Divine through form and compassionate agency; in the Shiva Purana narrative this devotion ultimately intersects with Shiva’s higher will, often redirecting desire toward dharma and Shiva-bhakti.
A practical takeaway is prayerful sankalpa with humility—begin worship with reverent invocation of Śakti and Shiva, then offer a clear intention; this can be paired with japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and simple offerings (water, bilva) to a Śiva-liṅga, while cultivating surrender rather than demand.