Shloka 15
पिप्पलाद-मुनिना पद्मा-विवाहः
Pippalāda’s Marriage to Padmā and the Establishment of Dharma
येन दत्तो वरः प्रीत्या लोकेभ्यो हि दयालुना । दृष्ट्वा लोके शनेः पीडां सर्वेषामनिवारिणीम्
yena datto varaḥ prītyā lokebhyo hi dayālunā | dṛṣṭvā loke śaneḥ pīḍāṃ sarveṣāmanivāriṇīm
He—compassionate and gracious—bestowed a boon with delight upon the worlds, after seeing in the world the affliction caused by Śani, an unavoidable torment that befalls all.
Sūta Gosvāmin
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse frames Śiva’s compassion as extending to all worlds by mitigating the otherwise inescapable karmic/planetary affliction (Śani-pīḍā).
Significance: Establishes a doctrinal basis for seeking Śiva’s śaraṇāgati (refuge) against graha-doṣa as a form of grace overriding secondary cosmic agencies.
Cosmic Event: Graha-pīḍā (Śani’s affliction) presented as a universal, quasi-fated pressure within saṃsāra.
FAQs
It highlights Shiva as the compassionate Pati who, seeing beings bound by unavoidable karmic suffering (here symbolized by Śani’s pīḍā), grants grace through a boon—showing that divine mercy can mitigate the harshness of karma without denying its law.
The verse presents Shiva in a saguna, world-protecting role: the Lord who actively responds to devotees’ distress. Such relief-seeking devotion is traditionally directed to Shiva through Linga worship, where one petitions the compassionate Lord for protection and inner steadiness amid karmic trials.
A practical takeaway is Shiva-bhakti during periods of Śani-related hardship: steady japa of the Panchākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), along with simple Linga abhiṣeka and wearing/using rudrākṣa for focused remembrance of Shiva’s protecting grace.