हंस-वराह-रूपग्रहण-कारणम्
The Reason for Assuming the Swan and Boar Forms
महादेव उवाच । जन्ममृत्युभयाविष्टा नाहं स्रक्ष्ये प्रजा विधे । अशोभनाः कर्मवशा विमग्ना दुःखवारिधौ
mahādeva uvāca | janmamṛtyubhayāviṣṭā nāhaṃ srakṣye prajā vidhe | aśobhanāḥ karmavaśā vimagnā duḥkhavāridhau
Mahādeva said: “O Vidhi (Brahmā), I will not create progeny that is seized by the fear of birth and death—inauspicious in disposition, helplessly driven by karma, and sunk in the ocean of sorrow.”
Lord Shiva (Mahadeva)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Cosmic Event: ethical-theological pause in sṛṣṭi: refusal to generate beings destined for karmic suffering
The verse highlights saṁsāra as a state of fear and sorrow caused by karma (pāśa). From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, beings bound by karma cannot attain lasting good until grace and right orientation toward Pati (Śiva) arise; hence Śiva refuses to further multiply suffering-bound existence.
It frames Saguna Śiva (Mahādeva) as the compassionate Lord who intervenes in creation so that beings are not merely produced for bondage. Linga-worship centers on approaching Śiva as Pati, seeking purification of karma and release from the fear of birth and death.
The implied takeaway is to pursue practices that loosen karma’s control—regular japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), Linga-pūjā with bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and devotion, and meditative remembrance of Śiva as the liberator from janma-mṛtyu.