Shloka 42
द्विजेश्वरावतारः
The Manifestation of Shiva as Dvijeśvara
नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इति विप्रगिरा भीतश्चिन्तयामास पार्थिवः । अरक्षणान्महापापं पत्नीदानन्ततो वरम्
nandīśvara uvāca | iti vipragirā bhītaścintayāmāsa pārthivaḥ | arakṣaṇānmahāpāpaṃ patnīdānantato varam
Nandīśvara said: Thus, frightened by the words of the brāhmaṇa, the king reflected: “Neglecting protection (of one who seeks refuge) is a great sin; therefore, giving my wife (in response to the brāhmaṇa’s demand) is the better course.”
Nandishvara (Nandi)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
FAQs
The verse highlights dharma as a Shaiva virtue: failing to protect one who seeks refuge is declared a grave sin, urging the ruler to choose the path that minimizes adharma and preserves moral accountability before Śiva, the inner witness (Pati).
In Saguna Śiva worship, devotion is validated by conduct—especially protection, truthfulness, and responsibility. The Linga represents Śiva as the moral ground of the universe; thus, dharmic protection becomes an offering aligned with Śiva’s order.
A practical takeaway is to pair worship with sankalpa for dharma: perform japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") while cultivating the vow to protect the vulnerable and avoid the great fault of arakṣaṇa (failure to protect).