Shloka 16
नारीसन्देहभञ्जक-शम्भ्ववतारकथा
The Account of Śambhu’s Incarnation that Dispels Doubts Concerning Women
सा त्वेकहायनं बालं वहन्ती विधवा निजम् । अनाथमेकं क्रंदन्तं शिशुन्तत्र ददर्श ह
sā tvekahāyanaṃ bālaṃ vahantī vidhavā nijam | anāthamekaṃ kraṃdantaṃ śiśuntatra dadarśa ha
There she—a widow—was carrying her own one-year-old child; and there she saw another infant, helpless and without protection, crying all alone.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; depicts the human channel through which preservation (sthiti) of the helpless occurs, under Śiva’s prior prompting.
Significance: Models dharma of care: feeding/protecting an orphan is meritorious; in Śaiva framing, such compassion participates in Śiva’s sustaining action.
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: nurturing
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
It highlights dharma expressed as compassion: even amid personal hardship, protecting the helpless becomes a doorway for Shiva’s anugraha (grace), which in Shaiva thought purifies karma and softens the bonds (pāśa) that limit the soul.
Though the verse is narrative, it reflects the Shaiva Siddhanta view that Saguna Shiva responds to sincere virtue and compassion; such conduct becomes an inner offering (mānasa-pūjā) that supports outer Linga worship with purity of heart.
Practice japa of the Panchākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—while cultivating dayā (compassion) in daily actions; let service to the distressed accompany simple Shiva worship such as offering water to the Linga.