Shloka 43
दक्षस्य विष्णुं प्रति शरणागतिḥ — Dakṣa’s Appeal to Viṣṇu and the Teaching on Disrespect to Śiva
वीरभद्रः पूजितोपि शीघ्रमस्माभिरादरात् । महाक्रोधसमाक्रांतो नास्मान्संरक्षयिष्यति
vīrabhadraḥ pūjitopi śīghramasmābhirādarāt | mahākrodhasamākrāṃto nāsmānsaṃrakṣayiṣyati
“Even if we promptly worship Vīrabhadra with reverence, once seized by overwhelming wrath he will not protect us.”
Dakṣa’s party (the fearful participants/attendants at Dakṣa’s sacrifice, as narrated by Sūta Gosvāmin)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra
FAQs
It highlights that mere external appeasement cannot counteract the karmic consequence of grave disrespect toward Śiva and His devotees; when adharma ripens into destructive reaction, protection is found not in hurried ritual but in genuine repentance and surrender to Pati (Śiva).
Vīrabhadra is a fierce Saguna manifestation of Rudra; the verse warns that worship done as damage-control, without true Śiva-bhakti and right intention, lacks the inner alignment that makes devotion protective—true Linga-worship is marked by humility, purity, and reverence.
The takeaway is sincere Śiva-śaraṇāgati (taking refuge in Śiva) supported by steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” along with sattvic conduct; external rites without inner transformation are implied to be insufficient.