Shloka 41
दक्षयज्ञे सत्या अपमानबोधः — Satī Encounters Disrespect at Dakṣa’s Sacrifice
यद्यशक्तो जनस्तत्र निरयात्सुपिधाय वै । कर्णौ धीमान् ततश्शुद्ध्येद्वदंतीदं बुधान्वरान्
yadyaśakto janastatra nirayātsupidhāya vai | karṇau dhīmān tataśśuddhyedvadaṃtīdaṃ budhānvarān
If a person there is unable (to bear hearing it), the wise one should indeed cover his ears and move away. Then he becomes purified—so declare the best of the learned sages.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; it is an ācāra/prāyaścitta instruction: if one cannot counter blasphemy, one should protect oneself by not hearing it and by leaving.
Significance: Teaches saṅga-tyāga (avoiding harmful company) and śravaṇa-śuddhi (purity of hearing) as a practical safeguard for bhakti and inner purity.
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches sensory discipline (especially of hearing): when exposed to spiritually harmful talk, a discerning devotee withdraws and protects the mind, which supports inner purity and devotion to Shiva.
Linga/Saguna-Shiva worship emphasizes śuddhi (purity) and focused śravaṇa-kīrtana of Shiva’s names and glories; avoiding degrading sounds preserves bhakti-bhāva and steadiness needed for Linga-upāsanā.
Practice sense-restraint (indriya-nigraha): avoid hearing hostile or impure speech, and instead engage the ears in Shiva-nāma japa/śravaṇa—such as the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”