Shloka 20
Diter Vratabhaṅga and Indra’s Intervention
Diti–Kaśyapa Narrative
द्विजानां वीरुधां चैव नक्षत्रग्रहयोस्तथा । यज्ञानां तपसां चैव सोमं राज्येऽभ्यषेचयत्
dvijānāṃ vīrudhāṃ caiva nakṣatragrahayostathā | yajñānāṃ tapasāṃ caiva somaṃ rājye'bhyaṣecayat
He consecrated Soma as king—over the twice-born, over plants and herbs, over the constellations and the planets, and likewise over sacrifices and ascetic disciplines.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Jyotirlinga: Somanātha
Sthala Purana: Soma, afflicted by decline through Dakṣa’s curse, attains restoration by worship of Śiva; the Moon’s lordship and waxing are remembered as Śiva’s grace, later localized in Somnāth as the emblem of Soma’s reconciliation and renewal.
Significance: Worship links lunar mind (manas) to Śiva; sought for relief from mental affliction, restoration, and steadiness in vrata/japa.
Role: nurturing
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
The verse presents Soma as an empowered cosmic governor: Vedic life (dvija), nature (herbs), time-astrology (nakshatra/graha), and sacred practice (yajña/tapas) function in order when divinely consecrated—ultimately under Shiva’s supreme overlordship (Pati).
By showing that even exalted deities like Soma receive authority through consecration, the text points to Saguna Shiva as the source who grants offices and fruit of worship; Linga-puja aligns the devotee with that supreme source beyond planetary fate.
It supports regular Shiva-upasana alongside Vedic acts—especially japa of the Panchakshara ("Om Namah Shivaya") with purity disciplines (tapas), and offering water or milk in Linga-abhisheka to harmonize mind and time (Soma).