Shloka 48
भूतत्रिपुरधर्मवर्णनम् (Description of the Dharma/Conduct of the Bhūta-Tripura) — Chapter 3
तस्मादेवं प्रकर्तव्यं वेदधर्मस्ततो व्रजेत् । त्यक्तलिंगार्चना दैत्या भविष्यंति न संशयः
tasmādevaṃ prakartavyaṃ vedadharmastato vrajet | tyaktaliṃgārcanā daityā bhaviṣyaṃti na saṃśayaḥ
“Therefore, it should be done exactly in this way, and then one should proceed according to the Vedic dharma. The Daityas will abandon the worship of the Śiva-liṅga—of this there is no doubt.”
Suta Goswami (narrating the Yuddhakhaṇḍa account to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Implicitly teaches that severing liṅga-arcana leads to spiritual decline; conversely, steadfast liṅga-worship protects dharma.
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
The verse highlights that adherence to Vedic dharma naturally culminates in devotion to Pati (Śiva); when dharma is redirected or manipulated, even powerful beings like the Daityas can fall away from Liṅga-arcana, losing the grace that steadies the soul (paśu) toward liberation.
Liṅga-arcana is presented as a decisive marker of right orientation toward Saguna Śiva (worship with form and rite). The verse asserts that a strategic shift will cause the Daityas to abandon Liṅga worship—implying that leaving such worship severs one from Śiva’s sustaining anugraha (grace).
The takeaway is to remain steady in Veda-aligned Śiva worship—especially Liṅga-arcana—supported by mantra-japa (notably the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and disciplined observance of dharma rather than abandoning core Śaiva rites.