Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 34
दक्षस्य प्रजावृद्ध्युपायः — Dakṣa’s Means for Increasing Progeny
दक्ष उवाच । किं कृतं तेऽधमश्रेष्ठ साधूनां साधुलिंगतः । भिक्षोमार्गोऽर्भकानां वै दर्शितस्साधुकारि नो
dakṣa uvāca | kiṃ kṛtaṃ te'dhamaśreṣṭha sādhūnāṃ sādhuliṃgataḥ | bhikṣomārgo'rbhakānāṃ vai darśitassādhukāri no
Dakṣa dit : «Ô le plus vil et pourtant le premier (dans la faute), qu’as-tu fait, toi qui portes les marques extérieures des saints ? Tu as montré à nos enfants le chemin de la mendicité, tout en te donnant pour artisan de vertu.»
Daksha
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Bhikṣāṭana
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse belongs to Dakṣa’s polemic against Śiva’s ascetic/antinomian appearance (Bhikṣāṭana motif), criticizing the social impact of renunciation on householders.
FAQs
It highlights a common error: judging spirituality by external marks. From a Shaiva perspective, true dharma is inner devotion and purity oriented to Pati (Shiva), not mere imitation of a sadhu’s appearance.
Daksha’s complaint about “sādhu-liṅga” contrasts outer signs with the deeper Shaiva principle: the Linga symbolizes the inner reality of Shiva. Genuine Saguna worship and Linga-upasana require humility and surrender, not social posturing.
The takeaway is to prioritize sincere japa and worship (e.g., Panchakshara mantra—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with ethical discipline, rather than adopting ascetic externals without inner transformation.