Shloka 22
नारीसन्देहभञ्जक-शम्भ्ववतारकथा
The Account of Śambhu’s Incarnation that Dispels Doubts Concerning Women
इच्छाम्येनं पोषितुं हि बालमौरसपुत्रवत् । संप्रष्टुं नोत्सहेऽज्ञात्वा कुलजन्मादि चास्य वै
icchāmyenaṃ poṣituṃ hi bālamaurasaputravat | saṃpraṣṭuṃ notsahe'jñātvā kulajanmādi cāsya vai
“Indeed I wish to nourish and raise this child as though he were my own son. Yet I do not dare to question him, for I have not ascertained his lineage, his birth, and the rest of his origins.”
A householder/guardian figure in the Shatarudra narrative (as relayed by Suta Goswami to the sages)
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
The verse highlights dharmic compassion—caring for a vulnerable being as one’s own—paired with humility and restraint. In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, the soul (paśu) is to be protected and uplifted, while one recognizes that the deepest origin of beings ultimately rests in Pati (Shiva), beyond ordinary social knowing.
It reflects the attitude of reverence and non-injury that supports Saguna Shiva worship: the devotee serves living beings without arrogance or intrusive domination. Such self-restraint and compassionate duty become an offering to Shiva, who is worshipped as the inner Lord present in all.
A practical takeaway is seva (service) performed as Shiva-arpaṇa (offering to Shiva), accompanied by japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to steady the mind in humility. The verse does not explicitly prescribe bhasma, rudraksha, or a specific rite.