Shloka 59
नारीसन्देहभञ्जक-शम्भ्ववतारकथा
The Account of Śambhu’s Incarnation that Dispels Doubts Concerning Women
एष ते तनयः पूर्वजन्मनि ब्राह्मणोत्तमः । प्रतिग्रहैर्वयो निन्ये न यज्ञाद्यैस्सुकर्मभिः
eṣa te tanayaḥ pūrvajanmani brāhmaṇottamaḥ | pratigrahairvayo ninye na yajñādyaissukarmabhiḥ
“This son of yours was, in a former birth, an excellent brāhmaṇa. Yet he spent his life merely on receiving gifts as a livelihood, and not on meritorious deeds such as yajñas and other sacred observances.”
Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana’s account to the sages, conveying a prior speaker’s teaching within the story)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Dakshinamurti
FAQs
The verse warns that spiritual status is upheld by sādhana and righteous action, not by social identity alone; merely living off gifts without inner and outer dharma leads to karmic decline, emphasizing Shaiva ethics of purity, duty, and devotion.
Linga worship in the Shiva Purana is repeatedly tied to sincerity and right living; this verse underlines that external roles or income from rituals are not equal to true bhakti—Saguna Shiva is pleased by devotion supported by good conduct and selfless duty.
The takeaway is to prioritize sukarma with devotion—regular Shiva-puja, japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namah Shivaya), and disciplined observances—rather than treating sacred acts as mere means for receiving gifts.