Shloka 40
ऋषभचरित्रवर्णनम् (Ṛṣabha-caritra-varṇanam) — “Account of Ṛṣabha’s Sacred Narrative”
अवतारेण मे येन भद्रायुर्नृपबालकः । जीवितो हि मृतः क्ष्वेडदोषतो जनकोज्झितः
avatāreṇa me yena bhadrāyurnṛpabālakaḥ | jīvito hi mṛtaḥ kṣveḍadoṣato janakojjhitaḥ
By that incarnation of Mine, the prince-child Bhadrāyu—though already as good as dead due to the affliction of poison, and abandoned by his own father—was indeed restored to life.
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Vaidyanātha
Jyotirlinga: Vaidyanātha
Sthala Purana: The verse’s healing-from-poison motif aligns with Śiva as Vaidya (divine physician). While not explicitly naming the jyotirliṅga, it resonates with the Vaidyanātha tradition where Śiva grants ārogya and life-restoration.
Significance: Prayers for healing, longevity, and relief from विष-दोष/rogas; reinforces faith in Śiva’s anugraha overcoming karmic affliction.
Type: mahamrityunjaya
Role: nurturing
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
It highlights Śiva as Pati (the supreme Lord) whose compassionate grace can reverse even “certain death,” showing that surrender to Śiva transcends karmic distress and worldly abandonment.
The verse emphasizes Saguna Śiva—Śiva who takes form (avatāra) to protect beings. Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is devotion to that same Lord, who is formless in essence yet manifests mercifully for devotees.
A practical takeaway is Śiva-śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) supported by japa of the Panchākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as a protective remembrance of Śiva’s saving presence in crisis.