Shloka 131
बन्धमोक्षवर्णनम्
Bondage and Liberation: The Prakṛti–Karma Wheel and Śiva as the Transcendent Cause
महाव्याधिसमुत्पत्तौ संकल्पं पुनराचरेत् । सर्वभावे दरिद्र स्तु दीपदानमथाचरेत्
mahāvyādhisamutpattau saṃkalpaṃ punarācaret | sarvabhāve daridra stu dīpadānamathācaret
When a grave illness arises, one should renew one’s sacred resolve (saṅkalpa) for Śiva-worship. And if one is impoverished in every respect, one should then perform the gift of a lamp (dīpa-dāna) as a devotional offering.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Vaidyanātha
Jyotirlinga: Vaidyanātha
Sthala Purana: Vaidyanātha is revered as Śiva the Divine Physician who removes disease and grants well-being; the verse’s focus on illness and remedial resolve naturally aligns with this healing aspect (vaidya-bhāva) of Śiva.
Significance: Sought for relief from illness and restoration of vitality; reinforces that even the destitute can offer a simple dīpa-dāna and renew saṅkalpa as a path to Śiva’s grace.
Type: mahamrityunjaya
Shakti Form: Annapūrṇā
Role: nurturing
Offering: dipa
FAQs
It teaches that adversity—especially serious illness—should deepen one’s commitment (saṅkalpa) to Śiva, and that even without wealth, devotion can be expressed through simple, sattvic offerings like dīpa-dāna.
Lamp-offering is a direct, visible act of reverence before the Śiva-liṅga, honoring Saguna Śiva through light (prakāśa) and steadiness of intention, which supports the devotee’s purification and inner turning toward Pati (Śiva).
Renew the saṅkalpa for Śiva-pūjā and perform dīpa-dāna—lighting and offering a lamp before Śiva—ideally alongside mental japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”