Shloka 27
भिक्षुवर्य्य उवाच । सन्देहं कुरु नो चित्ते विप्रभामिनि मा खिद । रक्षैनम्बालकं प्रीत्या सुपवित्रं स्वपुत्रकम्
bhikṣuvaryya uvāca | sandehaṃ kuru no citte viprabhāmini mā khida | rakṣainambālakaṃ prītyā supavitraṃ svaputrakam
The excellent mendicant said: “Let no doubt arise in your mind, O Brahmin lady; do not grieve. Protect this child with affection—this most pure one—as though he were your own son.”
Bhikṣuvarya (the foremost mendicant/ascetic)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Bhikṣāṭana
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it depicts Śiva’s compassionate concealment (tirodhāna) through a mendicant guise, guiding a householder woman toward dharmic care that becomes a vehicle for grace (anugraha).
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It teaches that spiritual progress in Shaiva dharma begins with removing doubt (saṃśaya) and sorrow, and expressing compassionate protection—seeing the pure (supavitra) with reverence and love.
Saguna Shiva worship emphasizes trust in divine order and living dharma; here, the ascetic urges faith and loving guardianship, which mirrors the devotee’s attitude of śraddhā and seva cultivated in Linga worship.
A practical takeaway is to steady the mind by rejecting doubt and grief, then act with loving service; one may support this with daily Panchakshara japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") while maintaining a protective, compassionate vow.